The Prodigal Son had to face death

In Sunday School last week, the story of the Prodigal Son was brought up. The leader mentioned how the people of the area would have viewed him. He insulted his father when he left, and went and lived among the gentiles, fed the pigs, etc. Upon returning to his father, he must have looked a mess. The people of his hometown surely would have rejected him, right?

I think it a little more intense than that. I think they would have wanted to stone him. He basically told his father he wished he were dead when he asked for his share of the inheritance before his father's death. Folks back then took a pretty harsh view of such actions. Not only that, but he made himself an outcast and unclean with the lifestyle he chose. So coming back was not an option, for those who welcomed him back would have made themselves unclean as well.

Just like God did when he bore our sins on Himself. So when Jesus tells us that we must die to ourselves and pick up our cross (daily), think of the prodigal. He came back to face death. He humbled himself, wishing only to be like a hired servant, knowing that he had no right of his own to be a member of the family again.

But the father took the shame on himself and welcomed him. He embraced him. Wow!

Which is it?

Our Sunday School leader made a curious statement the other day. He was teaching on the chapter of "God's Astounding Opinion of You" (by Ralph Harris) that deals with the issue of God being our friend. I believe it is chapter 10, if not, it is close. He stated that he did not feel that this chapter was very theological, but none-the-less, it was a good chapter.

To quote Inigo Montoya (of the Princess Bride), "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." The word "theology" can easily be broken into two parts, "theo" (God) and "ology" (the study of). And what topic could be more theological that God's character and what it is He thinks of us? This should shape the very depths of how we view Him!

So during this lesson, we spent some time in Matthew 15, verses 12-15. Some commented on verse 16, where it says "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide."

So here is my theological question, one that has many implications and I believe must be wrestled with. What does it mean that God chooses (elects, determines, predestines, or whatever label you want to give it) and how does He choose?

Does He choose like the NFL draft, based on some attributes that we possess? Or is it more like sticking His hand into a bowl of M&M's and randomly getting a handful of different colors? I have my thoughts on this, which I hope to share, but for now it is off to work!

Go to bed!

Matthew 11:28

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

I remember when my children were younger. Bedtime was always a struggle. They did not want to go to bed, they wanted to stay up until ?? This was very humorous at times, as they begged and pleaded through their yawns to be able to stay up. They needed rest, their bodies knew it. But their minds fought the concept to the bitter end.

Are we much different?

We all struggle with the flesh. We struggle with what God wants of us and how to please him. We continually ask ourselves how can we do better? How can we please God more? Does this sound restful, or does it sound like a child saying, "I'm not tired yet!"

Burdened by the law, we carry a load heavier than we can bear. Yet we continue to struggle with the idea of doing better and pleasing God more. God says "Rest, go to bed, put down that load and take it easy."

How do we please God? By working harder? Absolutely not. We please God when we trust Him. When we rest in His promises. When our goal is not to please Him (which is a heavy burden), but to draw near to Him in faith. When we lay our burdens at His feet and respond to His great love rather than trying to earn it.

I Surrender!!

We were traveling at night on a highway in Missouri. I had just passed a state trooper who was going slower than the speed limit. As I pulled in front of him, on came his lights, so I pulled over. My 5 year old son was in the back seat, as was my 5 year old daughter. As the officer approached, I lowered my window. This was the moment my son decides to shout out, "I surrender!"

Turns out that the officer noticed my son moving around in the back seat, and wanted to make sure he was in a child seat and bucked in. He was, he just gets a little active at times. After explaining why we were pulled over and using his flashlight to check if everyone was buckled, he sent us on our way.

From Chapter 3 of God's Astounding Opinion of You (by Ralph Harris):

Unintentionally, we may send the false message that we haven't been included in Christ's death when we implore Christians to surrender.

I know some who might read this will struggle with this. How many times have we heard the hymn's words, "All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give..."

But consider what surrender means, especially to those unfamiliar with Christianity. Surrender means we have been defeated, when in fact we have been victorious. Surrender means we are at the mercy of our captor, when in fact we are under His grace. We surrender to enemies, God is not our enemy.

So while surrender to God's will might be a good idea for Christians to embrace, I can understand that for those not of the faith, the plea to surrender to God might not be the best choice of wording.

Or am I just being too picky?

Mirror, Mirror...

From "God's Astounding Opinion of You," (Chapter 1)

When we see our failures, struggles, and shortcomings, we begin to believe we are truly a mess in need of a lot of changes. What's wrong with that? Soon we'll become fascinated and fixated with ourselves instead of God. And that's tragic.

To a point, I think that we need to see our failures, struggles, and shortcomings. But we also have to balance that with who we are in Christ. I need to see myself as a sinner in need of a Savior. I need to look a Jesus and see Him as my redeemer, my hope, my life. Unless I see my "unsaved" condition, that will not fully happen.

The road to this point is different for different people. For some, it is a special moment when they are at a rock-bottom place and they have no where else to turn. For others, it is after repeated attempts to fix ourselves. For others, it is after years of knowing about Jesus but not really knowing Him. For others, it might be a combination of the above.

I would have to say that my journey is that of a mix. It has had its ups and downs. It has had times of trials where without God, I doubt I would be here today. It has also had times when things were going well and I took back some of the reigns again. Old habits die hard.

One of the problems I have when things are going well is I lose my vision of God. I also lose my vision of who I am. Not that I am a sinner prone to failure, but that I am a redeemed sinner, who needs to keep his eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my salvation. Seeing myself not only as redeemed, but forever seeing my redeemer as well.

Yes, I will fail at some points, but that does not make me a failure. It only means that my love for my redeemer should increase. I cannot help but think of David, after his encounter with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. God said that his consequence was the life of his first-born with Bathsheba. David begged and pleaded for the child's life. Those around him thought when the news of the child's death was reported to him, his behavior would only worsen. But it didn't. David cleaned himself up and got on with his life. David accepted God's consequence. David was a man after God's own heart. When he fell, he did not lose sight.

I need a break!

From the book, "God's Astounding Opinion of You" (Introduction)

"While works for God are important, the work of God in His people should thrill us so much that we become crazy about and gladly dependent on Him."

It looks genuine. You can't tell the difference from the outside. It has all the same visible markings. But when you open it up, the guts are not the same. Of course, I speak of a Rolex and its counterfeit counterpart. 

The same is true of some in the church. They play the part. They attend church, give, teach, etc. But the reason for their efforts is an effort to appease God. They have to stay on His good side. They are working so hard to be the people He wants them to be. And when they fail, they let themselves have it. The constant struggle is difficult, but they assure themselves that it will be worth it in the end. Oh, the joy that awaits in heaven, because life on earth is tough!

Then there is the man who is a Christian who does not look as if it is a struggle. He seems earnestly joyful. He seems to be at ease, at rest. He does all of the same things that everyone else does. He goes to church, gives, teaches, etc. But his is not a heavy burden, but rather a journey that he embraces. So much looks the same, but what is the difference?

Matthew 11:28-30

²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

What's Up?

Hard to believe it has been a month since I have posted. After finishing the book of Galatians, it was difficult to decide what to do next. I have been reading a book, "God's Astounding Opinion of You" by Ralph Harris because our Sunday School class is going through it. I think I will begin posting thoughts from it.

Here's my first thought, I really didn't care for the book when I first heard the title. I guess it sounded a little too much like something Joel Osteen would say. However, having read about 1/2 of the book already, I am glad to be reading it. God does have a high opinion of us, and understood correctly, that should have a huge impact on our lives. I don't care much for prosperity theology. In fact, I down-right hate it. But this is not that kind of book or theology.

So there is a teaser. Things are busy right now, and I don't know how much I will have time to post. High stakes testing going on at school, and there is always something that needs done. Things are busy at home as well. Last weekend my daughter spent 4 days in the hospital due to her CIDP, and is doing much better now.

God is faithful.