God Furiously Pursues Wicked People

The charis of God furiously pursues wicked people.  Charis stubbornly delights in repugnant rebels.  And God’s charis moves Him to descend with joy into the tent so that He can be in an intimate relationship with His image-bearing – albeit calf-worshiping – masterpieces of creation (Exodus 40:34).

– Sprinkle, Preston; Charis: God’s Scandalous Grace for Us; David C. Cook Publishing; Colorado Springs, CO; Kindle version; copyright 2014; page 73

We Have a God Who is Far, Yet Very Near

That’s what Exodus 25-31 is all about.  The details aren’t that exciting.  But the theological point is astonishing.  The instructions to build a tabernacle show that our holy God desires to be in relationship with us – even if it means living in a tent.  We don’t go to God; God comes to us.  We can try to build a tower into heavens to reach Him…um, or maybe not.  We have a God who is far, yet very near.  Transcendent and intimate.  He ventures into our murky space to relate with us.  After all, you’ve got to plunge your hands into the sewage to fix the drain.

– Sprinkle, Preston; Charis: God’s Scandalous Grace for Us; David C. Cook Publishing; Colorado Springs, CO; Kindle version; copyright 2014; page 71