The Open Door

“While he was still far away, his father saw him and ran to him.” — from Luke 15

One Saturday evening, when George was a young man, his friend took him to a house where some Christians were meeting. George felt shy. He had never been anywhere like it.

Inside, the people read the Bible together, and they sang, and then something happened that George never forgot. A man got down on his knees to pray. George had never seen anyone kneel to pray before — he had never even prayed on his knees himself. It moved him deep down in his heart.

The kind man whose house it was could see George felt out of place. So he said the loveliest thing: “Come as often as you please. My house and my heart are open to you.”

George went home that night — and instead of feeling empty and restless as he usually did, he lay down in his bed peaceful and happy. Something brand new had begun inside him. He said later it was the turning point of his whole life. That was the night George came home to God.

God is like that kind man at the door, only far, far kinder. However far away from him you have wandered, his heart is open to you. You never have to be good enough first. You just have to come.

Dear God, thank you that your heart is always open to me. I want to come to you. Amen.