Prodigal who?

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: … “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”‘ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe — the best one — and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'” (Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 NRSV)

This story is the parable we all grew up knowing as the Prodigal Son. Prodigal is lavish spending , recklessly using what you have…

This story and the whole chapter of Luke 15 is thought to have been about repentance. The son after telling his father he was dead to him by asking for his portion of the father’s wealth comes to his senses and repents. Now don’t get me wrong. He comes to his senses. Nothing makes a good Jewish boy come to his sense quicker than wanting to eat what you are feeding the pigs you are working with. But is that what this story is really about? And this chapter? If so what is the part about the older son all about and what about the other 2 parables in the chapter?

The other 2 parables are the lost sheep and the lost coin. If this chapter is about repentance then how does a sheep repent and how does a coin repent. A sheep rents by say, “I’m sorry I’ve been baaaaaad.” and a coin repents by saying, “I promise I’ll change.”. So are these stories about sheep and coins repenting or are they about the shepherd and the woman? Just like the Prodigal Son is not about the son, but the father, just as the story begins, “There was a man who had two sons.”

The story is a it the father who goes out of his way to shame and dishonor himself to get his son back. The father who lavishly and recklessly gives his wealth, honor and dignity to get his son back. The prodigal father, just like God. God is chasing after you, so just turn around and see Him there chasing after you…

Happy

Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
Selah
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Selah
Therefore let all who are faithful
offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters
shall not reach them.
You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.
Selah
I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,
else it will not stay near you.
Many are the torments of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
Psalm 32 (NRSV)

Are you always happy? Is your life always together and everyone great?

Actually those are 2 different questions.

Your life always being together and everything being great is something that is never actually realized. We have moments in our life when that happens, but there are times that everything seems like it is falling apart and it is far from great…

Being happy is not having everything together and having everything be great. Being happy is knowing that God is on your side and no matter what you will face it will not be alone.

If we listen to the counsel of God and follow where He lead we can know that He is always with us and we can be happy.

Sight…

So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord — for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences. We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them. (2 Corinthians 5:6-15 NRSV)

In my minds eye I can see your face… goes a line in the DC Talk song Minds Eye. It is a song about the above text how we live by faith and not by sight. We have never “seen” God or Jesus. Yet we all have “seen” God and Jesus. In the face of the child we give their first gift. In the face of the person who needs food that we give a hot meal to. To the person we listen to that needs an ear for compassion.

We have never seen the wind, we have seen the effects of the wind but never the wind. God needs us and asks us to believe in His promises and know we can live by faith and not worry about not seeing.

Because seeing isn’t believing, believing is seeing!

Lose heart…

So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling — if indeed, when we have taken it off we will not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. (2 Corinthians 4:16-5:5 NRSV)

Have you ever been involved with something where the circumstances were not what you wanted and were hard to handle? Did you wonder if that situation would ever end?

It is easy for us to get hung up on the negatives in our lives, and to just focus on all of the bad things happening. We can get caught in the trap of wondering if we will ever be put of the bedtimes and our lives will be good and wonderful. Well the good news is yes we will, but the bad news is not until Jesus comes back.

You see we have been promised glory, as we sit on high with Jesus and God in the next life. But this life will always bring pain and sorrow along with the joy and wonder. We wil need to hold tight to the promises and trust that God will always be with us.

So trust in Him and know that His promises are true.

The Kingdom

He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” And again he said, “To what should I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”  (Luke 13:18-21 NRSV)

What is the kingdom of God like? It is a place for birds to find rest and home. It is like air that surrounds us and is every where.

Or if you are a Star Wars fan it is like the Force, which in the words of OB1 Kenobi, “surrounds us, penetrates us and binds the galaxy together.”

You see the kingdom of God surrounds us ans is in us and holds us close to Him. So don’t think you far to find God. He is right there with you right now, and always will be.

I know the law…

For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (Romans 2:12-16 ESV)

“Don’t tell me what I know and don’t know, I know the law!” comes an emphatic statement from Lieutenant Caffy in A Few Good Men. He is talking about what is actually the truth and what he can prove or not prove. The point is the law will win in the case he is talking about.

Do you ever feel that way? If I only know all of the rules and can uphold them, then I will be good. But knowing the rules really only gives us the clear line by which we will be judged. You see according to this passage it does not matter if we know the law or not we will be judged by Jesus Christ. None of us will avoid being judged.

Knowing the law will not help unless you can follow incompletely and even of you don’t know the law you still must live up to Jesus’ standard…

So who can stand? Only the one found in Him…

judgement…

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. (Romans 2:1-11 ESV)

Have you ever judged someone?

If you said no I want you to contact me, because you are a rare person indeed! We have all judged someone, and some of us will say it was for that persons betterment. We are merely pointing out their sin, and helping them to live closer to God and get right with God so they will not burn in Hell…

Well the above text to the Romans tells us we are not to judge and usually if we do judge someone of something we are probably guilty of the same thing. And do we think that God will be kind to us and allow us a pass because we are helping others see the sin they are committing to help them be closer to God. We will get a pass for helping the other… But God shows no partiality, so if you do the crime you do the time…

So why do we judge? Is it because we think we have it all together and God does not see our sins? Or do we really think that we are better than everyone else and therefore have the right to point out other peoples’ faults?

We are all sinners and can not stand before God and deserve death and eternal separation  So do not judge another before you can stand before God without Jesus help, because none of us can…

His way…

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord , that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord . For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:1-9 ESV)

My ways are not your ways… I can testify that God’s ways are not my ways. And let me be the first to say I am glad that is the case. If I always got what I wanted, and everything went the way I wanted it to I would be completely impossible to live with. God’s way is much better than my way and His thoughts are better than mine.

If I can seek Him and come after Him I will get the riches He has to offer for free. He will satisfy me in ways I can’t imagine. So follow after Him and know that His way is much better than your way.

Seek

O God, eagerly I seek you
O God, you are my God, I seek you,
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands and call on your name.

My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,
and my mouth praises you with joyful lips
when I think of you on my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
Psalm 63:1-8 (NRSV)

What do you seek after?

Wealth?

Adoration?

Admiration?

Celebrity status?

Why do we seem to spend our time seeking things that will always be alluding us and if we get them never actually satisfy the longing that sent us seeking?

Follow this psalmists advice and seek after the Lord our God. Thirst for Him always and your life will be blessed beyond imagination.

Works…

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: “The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “”I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:1-6 ESV)

Have you ever done something because you believed it was something God wanted you to do?

Have you ever done something because you thought it was what the community around you thought it was what God wanted you to do?

You see good works do not matter in the eternal currency. What matters is good works done for the right reasons. To just do things to get you points will get you nothing. To do things to gain you points with the community will actually work against you. God wants your heart to be pure and to follow after Him. He knows the real reason you are doing things, so do not try to trick Him. Just follow Him and trust in His promises…