Glad to Be Home
As I sat this afternoon, the lyrics of an old Andrea Crouch song came to mind. Therein lies truth.
Through it all
Through it all
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus
I’ve learned to trust in God
Through it all
Through it all
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word (Through It All 1971)
Luke 15:11-24 (<<click here to read the passage)
A few weeks back Karen and I were able to donate blood with the Red Cross and as I was waiting, who should I see but a retired professor of mine who had just donated blood himself. Through the course of our conversation, he recommended a movie and the book on which it was based. The book was The Rocket Boys (October Sky) written by American engineer Homer Hickam, Jr. It is the story of his pursuit of amateur rocketry while growing up in a small mining town in southern West Virginia.
As I read through this passage of Luke today a couple of incidents came to mind from the book. He was a typical teenage boy and got himself in trouble quite often. When things would blow up (sometimes literally!) he would say he was sorry but, especially when it involved his mom, I often felt that he was sorry that he got caught and to some degree sorry that he destroyed something or hurt her feelings but he didn’t seem to really be sorry for what he had done.
Here is one little quote,
I had a lot of experience dealing with my mother when she got mad at me. The best approach was to throw myself immediately on her mercy. I sought her out, finding her in the kitchen. “Mom, I’m really sorry,” I said, my head bowed. I watched her out of the tops of my eyes to see what impact my declaration had made. (Hickman, Homer, Jr., 1998, Rocket Boys, p.278)
Many of us are guilty of that kind of “sorrow”, not that that is any kind of excuse. But the young prodigal in Jesus’ parable seems to be sorry that he royally messed up his life but realized that he would be better off at the bottom of the heap as a hired man working for his father than feeding swine.
Yes, he said, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son” v21 but, though there is an admission of guilt, he doesn’t really express his sorrow for his selfish ways.
But does it slow down his father? Not one bit! I don’t think the father even heard what the son said. He was just overjoyed that his son was home!
How many of us would expect the erring son to grovel and squirm a bit? How many of us would say, “You bet you’re going to work! I’ll put a roof over your head and feed you, but you’ve already squandered what pay you might have received! You should be grateful that I’ll allow that!” …right?
But aren’t we all glad that our heavenly Father reflects the father in Jesus’ story? The price for our sins has been paid in full. All He wants is for us to come home. He accepts us right where we are. Can you imagine what the son looked like and smelled like? Pee-yew! But this was the father’s reaction.
“…while [the son] 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.” v20 NLT (emphasis mine)
Our heavenly Father sees us no differently. If anything, His love and compassion for us are greater by far! His joy is that we have come home. Everything else in our relationship will come in time.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for running to welcome me and taking me in Your arms! I surely did not deserve it but Your love conquers all! I’m glad to be HOME! Have you come home?
Sept 15th, 2020, Tues, 12:58 pm
Found
Thank You, Father, for Your guiding hand. Paths all around tempt me but as I heed Your direction, I am saved!
Luke 15:8-10 (<<click here to read the passage)
When I was younger (and not nearly as mature as I am today LOL!) I had a very bad habit of spinning my wedding band on a table or desk. That is a rare occurrence today. Also, on occasion, when my hands swell from a lot of walking, I pull it from my ring finger and place it on my pinkie.
Well on some occasion years ago, when doing something foolish…I lost my wedding band! We searched high and low and never did find it. Because of my irresponsibility, we had to replace it. It has been long enough ago that my replacement is still 14K gold. Many today are just 10K. Needless to say, it was not a happy time in my home.
My Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation says this about today’s passage, “Palestinian women received 10 silver coins as a wedding gift. Besides their monetary value, these coins held sentimental value like that of a wedding ring, and to lose one would be extremely distressing.”
How many wedding rings are there out there? How many coins are there out there? How many people are there out there?
Rings can be replaced. Coins can be replaced. People can…not be replaced.
My study Bible goes on to say, “Each individual is precious to God. He grieves over every loss and rejoices whenever one of his children is found and brought into the Kingdom.”
God loves us! There is not one single person in all of humanity who is expendable. We are valued. We are cherished.
“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 AMP
He loves us. But in order to “not perish” and have “eternal life”, we have to believe. The Amplified Bible version of verse 10 keeps things running along those lines.
In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents [that is, changes his inner self—his old way of thinking, regrets past sins, lives his life in a way that proves repentance; and seeks God’s purpose for his life].” v10 AMP
Maybe you have made that decision to repent…and that is wonderful! But what are you doing to help other lost souls find Jesus’ free gift of salvation? Perhaps we would have more joy in our churches if we shared Jesus’ love and concern for the lost, diligently seeking them, and rejoicing when they come to the Savior. (Life Application Study Bible NLT)
Sept 14th, 2020, Mon, 12:48 pm
Lost Sheep
Father, today was a good day. Today was a full day. But to say the least, I am exhausted! May my mind focus on You and Your word for me. Amen.
Luke 15:1-7 (<<click here to read the passage)
I have to smile. While working on last Wednesday’s post (Excuses), I remembered preaching on the passage from Luke 14:15-24 and went back through my sermon archives to search for it. I ended up sharing that particular sermon from almost 11 years ago, after a bit of tweaking, again today!
As I read through the passage for today’s blog, I realized that it was an additional passage from today’s sermon! I think Someone is trying to get my attention!
Here is the story from my sermon. It is a true story from the life of Pastor Ryan Johnson. (More of Ryan’s story can be found in yesterday’s sermon post, Welcome to the Misfit Kingdom.)
********
I had just dropped off my wife and kids in Salina, Kansas at my mother–in-law’s and was heading north out of town when I saw him. His name was Charlie.
Charlie was sitting in the ditch with large army bags. A cold misty rain was drenching him and his bags. He wore his Vietnam jacket proudly and it laid over is 400-pound body like a tarp.
I pulled over and asked if I could help. He said if I would load his bags (and man did he mean bags) on the car and drive them to the gas station that was a hundred yards away he would appreciate it.
I did. He limped along following behind my car.
After a few fruitless hours of trying to talk him into going to a rescue mission, I prayed with him and left.
I continued home and that’s when Jesus started in and I said, “Jesus I can’t take him home…He could kill me…But Jesus he really stinks…Jesus there is no way I am letting him stay the night…Now Lord I prayed with him, I helped him.”
Echoing Matthew 25, I felt Him say to me, “I said when you welcomed me – not if you prayed with me.”
So, I made a U-turn and as I pulled up next to Charlie at the gas station, I said, “Charlie get in!” And Charlie said, “Gitty up!”
For the next hour and a half, I rode with this 400-pound man in my small car. I had to crack the window to be able to breathe through the stench. I heard the story of how a once-proud veteran became a misfit. It was the common dilemma of needing medicine to get a job and a job to get the medicine.
We got to my place. I laid a sheet on the couch and I washed his clothes and belongings.
The next morning, I took him to the police station as a part of the ministerial alliance agreement to get him a free motel room and a hot meal.
Later that day I received a call from the Hospital’s Social worker. She said that Charlie was admitted and would speak to no one but me.
I walked into his room and said, “Charlie what do you need?” He said, “I don’t want anything. I just wanted you to know, they told me that my heart is bad and I’m dying. They want to ship me to Wichita. But I can never hitch a ride out of Wichita, so I want to stay here to die. Last night was the first home I have stayed in in over 20 years. Because of that I felt welcomed. And I know Jesus is asking me to get my real heart right. I just want you to know Preacher, I want you to help me accept the Lord.”
*******
Here are a few lines from my study Bible*.
God’s love for the individual is so great that he seeks out each one and rejoices when he or she is found. Jesus associated with sinners because he wanted to bring the lost sheep – people considered beyond hope – the Good News of God’s Kingdom. Before you were a believer, God sought you; and he is still seeking those who are yet lost.
How is Jesus speaking to you?
Sept 13th, 2020, Sun, 7:19 pm
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Keep Your Saltiness!
Trying something a little different today, Father. Later nights are much more difficult, so here I am. Speak, for Your servant is listening.
Luke 14:28-35 (<<click here to read the passage)
As I have gotten older, I realize that many people have an obsession with salt. I rarely salt anything. The only thing that comes to mind is buttered corn-on-the-cob (on which I also enjoy pepper, thanks to my father-in-law!) But then, of course, it is not normally prepared with salt ahead of time.
Karen uses salt when she cooks but not in great abundance. It’s interesting to see how many people salt their food without even tasting it. I read somewhere that J.C. Penny would eat with potential employees and if they did that, he wouldn’t hire them. I guess he didn’t want people who would just assume things were a certain way!
The sodium and chloride ions found in salt help us maintain our health. It’s essential for nerve and muscle function and is involved in the regulation of fluids in the body. So, it is important to us physically and it has been used to preserve meat and flavor foods for centuries.
Many don’t like to think about it this way but being in a relationship with Jesus is an all or nothing deal. Jesus says in verse 33, So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.
And as He has given us examples, we must enter into that relationship knowing what’s ahead. If we are going to do this, it has to be done right – again it’s all or nothing.
So, if we choose to accept our responsibilities, we most certainly have a purpose. As it says at the beginning of Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth.”
We, as followers of Jesus, are to impact the health and “flavoring” of the world. It’s a pretty bitter and otherwise bland place to live…but we can change that! Where the problem occurs is when we water down our message of hope and salvation. A small amount of salt in the water makes the water salty but a bunch of water with a pinch of salt doesn’t accomplish a whole lot!
If we lose our saltiness, we are good for nothing!
Lord Jesus, help us to keep our saltiness – for even on a chemical level, salt can’t be broken down! It is only when we water it down, do we lose our effectiveness. Enable us to give it our all, enable us to count the cost, and to not hold back! Amen!
Sept 10th, 2020, Thurs, 12:35 pm
Tough Love
Definitely a full-plate-kind of day, Father, and the day is quickly coming to a close. Pull me close that I may hear what you would have for my heart tonight. Amen.
Luke 14:25-27 (<<click here to read the passage)
For as long as I can remember, I have loved reading the Gospels. Of course, those are the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John that speak of Jesus’ life and teachings. I find them inspirational and uplifting as I read of how Jesus lead His life, how He responded to those in need, how He responded to those who opposed Him, and how He taught and loved those closest to Him. It’s real. It shows us the authenticity.
But recently, it seems to be a great challenge. Maybe it’s just where I am in Luke’s Gospel but it’s hard! Jesus loves us more than we could ever begin to comprehend but love is not always gentle and kind. It is not always dishing out gushy sweetness. Many times, for love to be effective it must be a tough love.
There’s a bit of controversy with that phrase “tough love” but quite often if we just tiptoe around certain things we accomplish absolutely nothing! There are times when we must speak the truth in love. If someone is on the verge of falling off a cliff, kind and gentle just won’t cut it! Loud and stern and maybe even a grabbing of an arm to stop a deadly plunge is needed!
Recently, that’s where I feel I am with Jesus’ life and teachings. I realize I don’t move quickly through Scripture (I started over 5 years ago with Ephesians, worked my way through all the epistles, touched on the book of Revelation a bit and jumped back to the Gospels and am now just a little over half-way through Luke!), but for a while now, feel like I am in tough love mode!
I have to remind myself often that this is Jesus talking! He loves us but the point is He loves right where we are, but He also loves us enough to not let us stay where we are!
By this time, a large crowd was following
Him now. We have no idea how many were there for free entertainment and food (bread and fish anyone?) – but His time was soon coming to a close so He makes it very plain to all,
“If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.” v26 NLT
Wow! That’s our text from the New Living Translation but the note on verse 26 from the Amplified Bible says that the word “hate” is an exaggerated figure of speech indicating a lesser degree of love, not actual hostility or aversion toward one’s earthly family.
But still! Those are some pretty strong words! Jesus lays it out! If you don’t live like this, you cannot be my disciple!
And if that wasn’t loud and stern enough, He goes on to say, “And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.” v27 NLT
Folks, this is not a game! It is a life or death reality! The crowds following Him knew the reality of what carrying your own cross meant – probably even more clearly than we do! They were witness to its reality much more than most probably cared to recall!
If we are going to follow Jesus, our love for Him must outweigh everything – and everyone else. It is not an easy thing to process but it is a necessity. We cannot follow Jesus on the surface. His love runs deep and if we are to follow, our love must run deep, as well. It may be tough but it’s no doubt, that it is love!
Sept 9th, 2020, Wed, 8:32 pm