Loving people home

God teaches us such remarkable lessons in His word about kindness, repentance, and forgiveness. When Ephraim rebelled against God, these were His words towards Ephraim: "Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Even after his rebellion, God says, "My heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him." (Jeremiah 31:20) Is this our response when someone turns their back or rebels against us? Does our heart yearn for them? Do we treat them with compassion? In Romans 2:4 we are reminded that God's kindness leads us to repentance. Perhaps our kindness can do the same. Jesus' story of the prodigal son shows us the Father watching, waiting and, when his son returns, running to meet him with compassion. There was no humiliation, only restoration and celebration. Ephesians 4:32 calls us to "be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." May we reflect our Father's loving and forgiving heart, always keeping the door of relationship open, and loving people back toward home. (Nicky B). Open Bible – bit.ly/Jer31v20, bit.ly/ROM2V4, bit.ly/eph4v32