God’s Stretch - Martin Wiles

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 NLT

Once upon a time, I ran—but soon realized I must stretch before I did.

Walking has always been my favorite exercise. Not too strenuous, and easy on the knees. This prepared me for hiking in the mountains, which various family members and I did for several years. This was a little more strenuous on the knees. 

Then one day, I got the urge to begin running. Since my daughter was a track and cross-country runner, I knew I needed to stretch before I took off down the road. I watched the stretches she did and followed suit. Running exercises more muscles, so the chances of sustaining an injury are greater with running than with walking. Yet, even with the stretches, I continually battled shin splints. I’d buy medical implements designed to help relieve the pain and walk until they healed, but as soon as I started running again, they reappeared. I finally gave up on running and stuck to walking.

Though it seems inconceivable, God stretched, too. I discovered that a bit of stretching wouldn’t do the trick. The chances of injury increased if I slacked off on my stretching time—something I hated to do. (I preferred just taking off without any preparation.)

According to Paul, God’s stretch was lengthy and had far-reaching consequences. He stretched all the way to earth and us. As soon as Adam and Eve sinned, God sacrificed an animal and then used the skin to cover their nakedness. But these sacrifices were only temporary and insufficient.

Thousands of years later, God stretched a little further by sending his Son to die a cruel death on a rugged cross. We had failed to stretch to God, so he stretched to us. This stretch encompassed everyone who had ever lived or would ever live. Sin had injured the entire human race.

My stretching was voluntary, and so was God’s. He was under no obligation to treat our injuries. Love, however, demanded he intervene, but we must respond to God’s stretch. As his hand reaches out to us, we must reach out to him in faith and take hold, but not by good works, popularity, or payment. Our grasp must be by faith--plain and simple.

Respond today to God's stretch of faith.

Father, I thank you for stretching down in love, grace, and mercy to care for my sinful needs. 

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