11-29-2021

 Good Morning All!

   Luke 15:20; “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” 

    This is a verse from the Parable of the Prodigal Son; I would encourage you to read all of chapter 15. Note a few things as you do. In the start of the chapter, notice that the original audience is the Pharisees. Then note verses 7 and 10.  Then remember that the word “prodigal” means wasteful.

    As we read this parable, who is the prodigal son? Almost everyone will say it is the younger son because he takes the money and blows it.  As you can probably guess, I don’t really buy that.  One of the reasons is that we assume that the most valuable thing we have is our earthly possessions. We see this young man as wasteful because of money or stuff. This parable, like the other two, is about relationships and not about ownership.

    There is almost universal acceptance that the father in the parable is God the Father. In our single verse notice how, the father runs and has compassion on his son and embraces him and celebrates. The older brother has nothing to do with it. In the first two short parables there is joy at the rejoining of the relationships. But in this parable, there is no joy mentioned.

    The most important things in our lives are our relationships with God and with each other. This parable speaks volumes to this. How many times do we waste relationships because we spend our energy, our desire and passion, on stuff and not people? Instead of desiring to spend time with our children or spouses or friends, we spend in pursuit of temporal things?  “I’ll spend time with you later” I have to clean the house or mow the lawn or fix the gutters or anything else that we put on our to-do list that is ahead of our relationships.  We put things and stuff ahead of our loved ones and ahead of God.

   As we observe Good Friday today, pay attention to what God was willing to give up in order to keep a relationship with you.  The Son of God willingly left all the glory of heaven to die on a cross. He did this because he loves us and wants us to have that perfect and holy relationship with him. He also wants us to have a loving and joyful relationship with each other. One that is based, not on stuff, but on the desire to live together in harmony and in worship of God: together.

    Many look at the cross and feel a ton of guilt. Look at the cross and see the love of the Father who would give anything to run to you and greet you with compassion. Look at the cross and hear God calling you, inviting you into the celebration. Look at the cross and see a father who spared no expense for you, holds no accounts payable over you, who demands no sacrifice or payment from you; He only offers us his incomprehensible love. Grab hold of the Father as he greets you with that hug. Then go out to your family and friends; let the house be messed up for a little while, the lawn will be there later but rejoice and celebrate in the relationships which God has given you in order that you might enjoy this life more fully.

Dearest Father, so many times have you come running after me as I stray while on my journey. Forgive me Father for the poor way I treat your love and the poor way I keep my relationships strong. All this we asked in the name of our Crucified Lord, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret