our pastors message today was about the prodigal son. if you are alive and breathing, there is a good chance you've heard this story. as he said, it's one of the most famous parables. personally, being the prodigal myself, i'm quite familiar with this story. he spoke about receiving the prodigal with open arms, as christ does. i'd say, if we are looking through the right eyes, we too can accept those who've strayed with open arms. it's all about perspective. do you see others through your own wisdom, understanding, and experiences, or through god's? i think if you can see yourself, in some form, at some time, as a prodigal, then you can more willingly extend grace. it's all about gratitude for what you've been given. a gift we do not deserve.
i don't pretend that this is an easy task. believe it or not, i tend to lean toward the judgemental side. i really believe that my own personal experience as that prodigal child has given me an ability to extend grace. my personality tends to be black and white, type a, what you sew you reap, realist! nice huh? but the love of god has penetrated my heart and shaped me into something much more forgiving, accepting, empathetic, and gracious. thank you lord! everyone deserves this grace and forgiveness.
my mom at one time was writing a book about our journey. she has not felt it is the right time to finish it, but it's essentially the same idea as this message. finding joy in the return of the prodigal. letting the lessons be learned, letting the healing come, and allowing grace to fill in the gaps and cracks, re-creating a beautiful, strong, healthy relationship. once the healing has taken place these restored relationships can sometimes be even better than they were before. that's how my story ended.
so if this message hit home with you and there is someone you are just having a very hard time with, please allow God to re-shape your view. you're not alone. i have my own little situation that god's working out with me. i will pray with you and you can pray with me and god willing, we will be like the father in this story, not the brother. lord knows when we are the one needing grace and forgiveness we will certainly hope for the same thing.
5 comments:
good thoughts
i thought pastor love hit this one out of the park. "the perspective through the eyes of the prodical, on his way home..." as he said that, i think the whole congregation mentally shifted and you could hear people letting the breath out.
it's part of our human, sinful experience where we at one point or another find ourselves on the road heading home. oh, to screw up bad. oh, to be so disappointed in yourself you can't even look at your own reflection. oh, what it feels like to be so sorry and so repentant; knowing you deserve nothing.
i think one of the keys to keeping our hearts soft towards others is to make sure we don't get too far away from our own "mercy story". every one of us has been rescued. we deserve nothing because of our wretched sin.
the difference between some of us and the prodical son in this story is are sins have not been made public and his were.
like pastor said, the walk home is meaningless unless the heart has made a true change.
i think that's so true hot potato, about some people's sins not being made so public. i wonder if them being made known makes it easier or harder. maybe when you know others know about the skeletons in your closet it can actually be easier to just come out with it and get it over with. where as those things that no body knows about (accept our "heavenly" father) can be easier to hold on to, harder to let go of. hmmmm. at the same time, because my rebelion was so public, it almost kept me from doing what i knew was right to do, because i didn't want everyone to be right AND i was fearful of the possible "brother" reaction. ultimately i couldn't take anymore and took the chance that my parents would recieve me with love and grace. thank goodness i was right.
Good post. I thought the message was awesome. It really made me take a look into my own life and face up to who I modeled and who I should be modeling.
Wonderful post, thanks for your perspectives. I really needed that right this moment!
As the "father", it seems easier to be the judge sometimes, but if "the son" knows they're truly loved, the holy spirit is so much more effective, and we are freed as well. :)K
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