Falling Into the Arms of God - Part 3

The past two mornings we have talked about the first two steps to “falling into the arms of God”: first, being still before Him; and, second, worship and adoring him daily. Today, the third step we must practice is to let go of your fear and fall into His arms. Listen to the promise of Moses: Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV). There once was a very pious Jewish couple living in a small village who had married young and full of love for one another. Their greatest hope was to have a child so their love could walk the earth with joy. Yet, there were difficulties. Since they were pious, they prayed and prayed and prayed. Along with considerable other efforts, the wife conceived. When she did conceive, she laughed louder than Sarah laughed when she conceived Isaac. And the child leaped in her womb more joyously than John did in the womb of Elizabeth when Mary visited her. And nine months later a delightful little boy came rumbling into the world. They named him Mordecai. He was rambunctious, zestful, gulping down the days and dreaming through the nights. The sun and the moon were his toys. He grew in age and wisdom and grace, until it was time for him to go to the synagogue and learn the Word of God. The night before his studies were to begin his parents sat Mordecai down and told him how important the Word of God was. The stressed that without the Word of God Mordecai would be an autumn leaf in the winter’s wind. He listened wide-eyed. Yet, the next day he never arrived at the synagogue. Instead he found himself in the woods, swimming in the lake and climbing the trees. When he came home that night, the news had spread throughout the small village. Everyone knew of his shame. His parents were beside themselves. They did not know what to do. So they called in the behavior modificationists to modify his behavior, until there was no behavior of Mordecai’s that was not modified. Nevertheless, the next day he found himself in the woods, swimming in the lake and climbing the trees. So they called in the psychoanalysts, who unblocked Mordecai’s blockages, so there was no more blocks for Mordecai to be blocked by. Nevertheless, he found himself the next day swimming in the lake and climbing the trees. His parents grieved for their beloved son. There seemed to be no hope. At the same time, the Great Rabbi visited the small village. And, the parents said, “Ah, perhaps the Rabbi can help!” So, they took Mordecai to the Rabbi and told him their tale of woe. The Rabbi bellowed, “Leave the boy with me, and I will have a talking with him!” It was bad enough that Mordecai would not go to the synagogue. But, to leave their beloved son alone with this lion of a man was terrifying. However, they had come this far, and so they left him. Now Mordecai stood in the hallway and the Great Rabbi stood in his parlor. He beckoned, “Boy, come here!” Trembling, Mordecai came forward. And then the Great Rabbi picked him up and held him silently against his heart. His parents came to get Mordecai, and they took him home. The next day he went to the synagogue to learn the Word of God. And when he was done, he went to the woods. And the Word of God became one with the words of the woods, which became the words of Mordecai. And he swam in the lake. And the Word of God became one with the words of the lake, which became one with the words of Mordecai. And he climbed the trees. And the Word of God became one with the words of the trees, which became one with the words of Mordecai. And Mordecai himself grew up to become a great man. People who were without anybody came to him and found communion. People with no exits came to him and found a way out. And when they came to him, he said, “I first learned the Word of God when the Great Rabbi held me silently against his heart.” Aren’t you ready to become one with the Word of God? Aren’t you ready to fall into His arms, too? You can. Be still. Worship and adore Him. Let go of your fear and fall into His arms now.