The Prodigal....A Look at the Father

The Prodigal....A Look at the Father

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Scriptures to read: Luke 15:11-32

Are we as parents more concerned about our reputation as “christian parents” than we are about our children's eternal destiny?

Reading and meditating on the story of the prodigal son, there are some lessons that we can see concerning the father of the prodigal son.

What was the father's perspective concerning his son wanting to take his inheritance and hit the road to party?

Was the father critical and judgmental of his son, when the son walked away from his father?

Was the father wanting his lost son to pay for embarrassing him? He let his son take his inheritance even though the father knew that his son was walking in the wrong direction. He didn't condemn his son at any point in time for his decision to go to the world.

The situation for the family was probably embarrassing.

He (the father) let his son go into the world, even though it probably hurt the father.

The son had to make a decision to follow the ways of his father or not to on his own. Free will.

It seems that the father of the prodigal was more concerned about his son than his own reputation with his neighbors and fellow church members. He displayed an unconditional love for his son. The bible says that the father “displayed compassion for his son when he was returning when the son was a great way off”.

Many of us as “christian parents” have suffered and some of us still do because of a “prodigal son or daughter”. I pray that our Lord grants us the strength and grace to do as the father in the story of the prodigal. Maybe those prodigals will return and be saved.

In Christ our Lord,

Don 

Jesus...When are You going to return? Or.....Geeez God...What's takin' You sooo long?!?

Jesus...When are You going to return? or.....Geeez God...What's takin' You sooo long?!?

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Scriptures to read: 2 Peter 3:9, Ezekiel 33:11, 2 Peter 3:10 – 13

Talking with a fellow brother in Christ last week, he and I both believe that the Lord's return is near. The world seems to be getting further from God.

Should we look forward to our Lord's return? Yes, I believe that we should.

But as for the tribulation and judgement that God will bring on the Earth.....

Is this something that God looks forward to? Does He (God) long to bring wrath and destruction on the Earth? Will it be the “high point of His day?”

I don't believe so. Peter says that the Lord is longsuffering toward us and that He (Jesus) doesn't want anyone to perish but wants all to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and repent (turn from their sins and turn to Jesus).

Ezekiel says that God doesn't take pleasure in the death of the wicked.

As I sat in my car the other night after a bible study, I thought longingly about the return of Jesus. But I began to think about what it would be like during the tribulation....the suffering and death. And I thought about people that I knew who do not know Jesus...they are not following Him. Co-workers, their spouses and children, some of my family members who aren't christians. I began to weep.

So, as we are anticipating our Lord's return, we should seek to be about His business. Praying for those who we have doubts about. He (Jesus) doesn't want our co-workers, family members and friends to perish. He wants them to have eternal life also.

In Christ our Lord,

Don 

Which Wisdom to Walk in?

Which Wisdom to Walk in?

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Scriptures to read: James 3:13-18 ; 1 John 1:5-9; Psalm 139:1-4

Two kinds of wisdom.....

One kind displays bitter envy. It also seeks after it's own (self-seeking). Quoting from James, he states that “ it (this wisdom) doesn't come from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.” And even though we may not want to admit it, sometimes, it's what we have in our hearts. And we can't hide from the Holy Spirit...eventually what is in our heart will come out. So why try to hide or lie to God? He already knows what's in our hearts. (See Psalm 139:1-4).

The other kind of wisdom from above is pure. It is gentle and can yield to others. Full of mercy. It is without partiality. Able to treat others with respect and love as people created in the image of God...whether they are a homeless person or a doctor. There's a lack of hypocrisy or to state it another way....A person with this kind of wisdom is what we like to call “real”.

But do any of us walk in the second kind of wisdom all of the time? I know that I don't.

In the book of 1 John, John writes that if we say that we don't have any sin, we are deceiving ourselves. But if we can get real with God and be honest, He can and is more than willing to free us from any sin (See 1John1:9) He (Jesus) died so that we wouldn't have to stay in our sins. He loves with a perfect love.

So, let us confess that sin that our Lord already knows about anyway so that we can be forgiven and cleansed from it. He (Jesus) paid too high a price for us to turn down His offer of forgiveness.

In Christ our Lord,

Don