There’s only one place in the bible where we see God running.
“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.” -Jesus Christ, Luke 15:20 (NLT)
Maybe you think of God as a stern faced old man who likes to make rules and is filled with judgement, well that’s not at all who God is. God is for you. He wants you to do well. He is on your side. If you want to know what God is really like, learn about Jesus.
Philip once said to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
And Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?” (John 14:8-9)
So to learn what God is really like, learn what Jesus Christ is really like. Start with the gospel of John, then read Matthew, Mark, and Luke. You might be surprised at the true nature of God. God tells us if you or I draw near to Him, He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)
So draw near, and experience God running in your own life. He’s waiting for you. He’s watching for when you begin to move toward Him. And while you are still a long way off, He’ll see you, and become filled with compassion. He’ll run to you and embrace you. Go to Him.
Maybe you have wandered away like the prodigal son. Maybe like the prodigal you’re starving right now, spiritually malnourished. Maybe like the prodigal you’ve finally come to yourself and realized life with faith in your Father and His Son Jesus Christ is more fulfilling than life without. Maybe you realize the source of your disillusionment is you put too much stock in expecting others to live up to expectations God has for you. Maybe now you’re ready to focus on what God has for you, instead of what others should be doing for God.
All the prodigal son had to do to be reconciled to his father was to change direction. All he had to do was to move toward his father. That’s how it is with you and God. So pray right now, tell Him you’re coming. Ask Him to run to you as He did for the prodigal. Let Him feed you, find a way to regularly study God’s words from His scriptures. Go to His house and enjoy Christian community.
God’s waiting. He’ll celebrate your return.
The Story of the Prodigal
Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
“A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’
“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began. Luke 15:11-24
About Kurt: The reason I write is to share what little scraps of wisdom I have with my favorite people on the planet, my two sons and their families, my nephews and their families, and my beautiful wife Kathy. David did that. So did Solomon. But the person I probably write to most, is myself. I really believe God has me writing this blog and these books because I’m the kind of person who has to remain immersed in His truth–or I’ll fall and fail miserably.
I write about several themes on God Running and you can see what’s written for each theme by clicking on a category in the right hand column of the home page. Themes include How Jesus loved people (and how you can love like Jesus), Marriage, The book of Genesis, Answers to Questions from Genuine Seekers, Suffering, and the Gospel of John. Those aren’t the only topics, but the main ones. I post once or twice a week.
I’m blessed to live in Portland, Oregon with my wife Kathy, and my two sons and their families.
Drop me an email at kurt@kurtbennettbooks.com, or friend me on Facebook, or find me on Twitter or Instagram. If you want me to speak to your group in a video meeting, just send me an email: kurt@kurtbennettbooks.com .
To make sure you don’t miss the latest posts you can subscribe by email if you’re interested. Just go to the Home Page and scroll down until you can click on the button in the right column that says “Sign me up!”
It’s my hope and my prayer God Running will richly bless you and your family.
In Jesus name.
Newly released book by Kurt Bennett, now available on Amazon!
Love Like Jesus: How Jesus Loved People (and how you can love like Jesus)
Love Like Jesus begins with the story of how after a life of regular church attendance and Bible study, Bennett was challenged by a pastor to study Jesus. That led to an obsessive seven year deep dive. After pouring over Jesus’ every interaction with another human being, he realized he was doing a much better job of studying Jesus’ words than he was following Jesus’ words and example. The honest and fearless revelations of Bennett’s own moral failures affirm he wrote this book for himself as much as for others.
Love Like Jesus examines a variety of stories, examples, and research, including:
- Specific examples of how Jesus communicated God’s love to others.
- How Jesus demonstrated all five of Gary Chapman’s love languages (and how you can too).
- The story of how Billy Graham extended Christ’s extraordinary love and grace toward a man who misrepresented Jesus to millions.
- How to respond to critics the way Jesus did.
- How to love unlovable people the way Jesus did.
- How to survive a life of loving like Jesus (or how not to become a Christian doormat).
- How Jesus didn’t love everyone the same (and why you shouldn’t either).
- How Jesus guarded his heart by taking care of himself–he even napped–and why you should do the same.
- How Jesus loved his betrayer Judas, even to the very end.
With genuine unfiltered honesty, Love Like Jesus, shows you how to live a life according to God’s definition of success: A life of loving God well, and loving the people around you well too.
A life of loving like Jesus.
Wow! Wow! Wow!
Walking with Our Abba since 1983 I started out in the Teacher’s gift. I later left being Martha and became Mary in 1994. Taught by the likes of Oral Roberts, Myles Munroe, worked for Paul&Jan Crouch early 2000’s, experienced fellowship with other religions not as a member, but to discover where they missed the teachings of Jeshua concerning The Abba, revealed later by the Holy Spirit the reason for that.
As a child I Loved learning about Jesus in the Baptist church I grew up in and was Baptised with the understanding at age 9 with permission due to my age.
In 1983 I was also Baptised in the Holy Spirit with evidence and received the gift of divers tongues and had an Acts 2:4 experience while asking to be filled with the Holy Spirit, visiting my Mom for Christmas and witnessed by those who heard.
All I want to say is Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!! I can’t seem to stop reading your Blog and to subscribe is unusual for me, but I believe the Holy Spirit has lead me here as I am being transformed to enter into the next level to fulfill The Word of God in my life.
Again,
Thank you
And may you continue to experience and receive all Our Father has for You.
So happy to hear our God used these writings to reach you! You made my day.
Hi Kurt, just found your postings & love the point of not being a Christian doormat. That sounds like a book title on its own! I did not grow up in the church & when I see people serving obediently but not with their hearts it doesn’t share or serve Jesus well. Your point of following the Holy Spirit was moving & powerful as well as when Jesus did say no or did not run to the rescue as with John the Baptist. I’d love to see you elaborate on spiritual gifts with the Holy Spirit and how to use them in serving as well as more on the Holy Spirit and how to know when we are following God. Since you are in Portland are you familiar with the website http://www.thebibleproject.com? I recently found it and it is absolutely amazing and hope you get to meet the awesome talent that is there. God bless you.
Kurt,
You are welcome to quote me, but due to the security situation of the Muslim country I work in, I would prefer not to share more information publicly. I have been working among mulisms doing community development and CP for 15 years – in Central Asia.
Jeff W
I understand.
A couple of supporting churches. Then as a part of a week long training on mission to the least reached. The theme is weaving in/around the idea that we first need a revelation of how good the Good News really is so that we will live lives of radical obedience – because we are loved, not so that we will be loved. That’s should be our mission. If we get this wrong, we will share it wrong and perpetuate good information that falls short of the mystery of the Good News.
I love that! That is so right on!!! Can I quote you in a blog post? (If your answer is yes, would you mind leaving your name and a little information about yourself?) You stated that truth so clearly.
I just stumbled upon your post while sitting in the Istanbul airport (I work in Central Asia) reading and preping for a sermon series on the Prodigal God (thanks Timothy Keller). I love the idea of a ‘Running God’.
Me too Jeff. Who is your audience?
Very nice intro and purpose. Godspeed brother
Thanks for stopping by.
I actually felt refreshed through d article on God Running. Actually He is always moved through compasion.
Thanks, Kurt, for your blog – and thanks also for following my blog, Learning From God’s Word. God bless you and make you a blessing to many.
Thanks for following my blog, Kurt! I really appreciate it. 🙂
I was researching names concerning the first family “Adam and Eva” with their offspring in Genesis 4 when I came across your post. It made sense to me. I looked at other resources but, they just left me feeling there’s something more.
Thanks
Glad you found it helpful Donna. Thanks for stopping by!
Many blessings to you also!! I find it so encouraging to find all these Christian blogs around. Glad I bumped into yours. Can’t wait to see what you have posted.
Thank you! Greetings! 😀 Blessings!
Blessings from above! 😀
Thank you for your kind hospitality. Your blog site is well liked and such a blessing to me. God bless you and your ministry, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Hi Kurt, I came upon your blog while trying to do a research into the origin of the Chinese people in the context of Biblical account in Gen 9:18-19 which said:
“Now the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan.These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated.”
Since all the people on earth came from Noah through his three sons I’m just curious as to where the Chinese fit in in terms of Genesis 9 and 10. Apparently, the Bible does not clearly lay out the lineage of the Chinese people. It is thus left up to many Biblical scholars to pick and choose certain verses in Genesis 9 and 10 and come up with the Biblical lineage of the Chinese people. Some said the Chinese people originated from Japheth through Javan. Some said they came from Shem through Joktan. Your source said the Chinese descended from Ham through Canaan to his son the Sinite.
I grew up in pagan idol worshipping culture. But, as I know, the ancient Chinese worshipped only one God whom they called Shangdi. In ancient times, China was known as Shenzhou, which means the land of God. The ancient Emperor acted as the representative of God and was known as the Son of Heaven with the Mandate of Heaven to rule over the people with justice and righteousness. One of the ritual for the Emperor to perform every year to be counted as righteous and maintaining the Mandate of Heaven was to observe a strict ritual of animal offerings in the form of bull and lamb without blemish and libation at a mount as offerings to God. The practice had been kept throughout the generations since ancient times from about 5000 year ago to our modern time when the last Emperor of China was deposed in 1911. Like the kings and nations of ancient Israel and Judah as described in the books of Samuel, Kings and Chronicles, the ancient Emperors and the people were likewise corrupted over the years as different philosophy and religions, such as Buddhism and Taoism, were introduced.
Sorry for such lengthy post, but I’m trying to put together my own perspective and understanding of the Biblical origin of the Chinese people by critical analysis of all the different materials gathered from my research, such as from some materials from your blog and your sources and materials from other sources. I just started my blog on this topic in WordPress and hope for some constructive and critical comments along the way.
Best regards,
Shan
Thanks for your comment Shan. That’s a daunting research project you’re taking on! I admire your obvious enthusiasm for your work. I think everything in my previous post you’re referring to would fall into the category of indication. In other words, we can’t definitively say where each specific race came from, but there is some interesting evidence out there.
I’d be very interested to hear what conclusions you come to when you finish your research.
Would you mind emailing me at kurt@kurtbennettbooks.com and sharing it with me?
May God richly bless you Shan.
Hello Kurt! I look forward to really diving more into your blog…I am inspired and encouraged by what I have read so far. Also, thank you for following my blog at Faith1st Ministry. I hope it has and will continue to be a major blessing in your life. May God richly bless you as you continue to write and blog. Please continue with us on this journey and remember to have Faith 1st. — Sebastian
You are welcome! Have a blessed day today in our Lord Jesus!
Hi Kurt…didn’t know where your blog was so I Googled you! Just received the letter that you have joined our team at Christian Blessings. Glad to have you! God bless you! You’ll have to swing me my website as well and check me out: http://LynLeahz.com and http://PromiseBook.net BTW, you made a good choice to come and serve God with us at CB! PTL is finding a lot of wonderful people to join…glad you are one of them!
Thank you for the warm welcome Lyn.
Hi Kurt, love your style and topics you cover in your blogs….would you collaborate with us at ChristianBlessings to reach out to the far corners of the world with the wonderful unchanging love of God and His Word? Could not send you an email. My email on ChristianBlessings.
Blessings
ptl2010
Hi Kurt, Thanks for stopping by at Bread for the Bride. I am enjoying your blogsite.
Thank you for the “Brother’s Keeper” blog. It is an important message.
Inspiring! Thank you for sharing a journey that’s packed with lots of truths that I needed to be reminded of. I pray that this will be a great resource and encouragement to others. Blessings!
Thank you.
My name is Karen Kim now i read the your blog
Last night i reading first time and Today i read again.
really!!! beautuful give to messages.:)
thank you again and have nice a day.
Kurt – very NICE, truly good and meaningful work. This inspires me to go out and do something that matters.
Blessings!
Andoman.
Thanks Kurt for hitting my blog. Your blog looks great with lots of good stuff! Looks like we have a lot in common and I’m glad to see you are about the work of equipping Christian leaders in the firefighting community. I pray your work is fruitful and Christ is glorified as you go about the business of saving lives in the community and in the firehouse.
Anchored
It was fun and adventuresome traveling with you in your book.
How we also desire to see Jesus written on every one of the pages of our life!
Great book and inspiring!
Thanks Kurt!!