"Surely Sure"

"As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel." (Psalms 125:5)

  Just to be clear, we do have a choice in how we walk out this life we have been given; but even still, there are limits to how far our Heavenly Father will allow us to be taken down a crooked path. Some might see this as a verse that speaks how God might give up, as though He turns those that are living wrong over to their wicked ways. To a certain extent, I believe that is true; He can only tell us so many times to stop, and then it's time for Him to show us He means business. That said, He does not ever give up on His children! I guess the best way that we can view this line of thinking is by looking at the example Jesus gave about the Prodigal Son. Although the son left to live outside of the father's wishes and protection, he was never ever outside of the father's love and affection. As far as the father was concerned, his son was still his son, no matter how far he might have gone, or how bad his life went wrong, he was always going to remain his son! The son did ask the father to let him go, and it might have not been what the father wanted to see happen, but the father knew in his heart that his son would be back, somehow someway, his son would be back! Jesus makes that perfectly clear, that the father never gave up looking for his son to return; and when he saw his son returning, he ran to greet him! Basically, what we have is a picture of grace being poured out on the son, regardless of what he did or how much disrespect he showed his father, grace was given, and it was given abundantly! His son asked for mercy, but the father wanted to pour out grace. This is what I am seeing in this verse, that we might get chewed up by whatever it is that takes us away or turns us aside, but, or when, or however, we turn back to God asking Him for mercy, He pours out grace; abundant grace on His children...

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. As many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen." (Galatians 6:15-18)