#prodigalgod

[bryanzug]

And when he saw his son returning, he started the BBQ… #easter #prodigalGod (at Queen Anne, Seattle)

[caroshin-blog]

Scattered notes 12/7

Many people are surprised by how strangely disappointing Christmas and Thanksgiving are to them. Home, then, is a powerful but elusive concept The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust to them; it was not in them, it only came through them, and what came through them was longing. Now we wake to find we have been mere spectators. Beauty has smiled, but not to welcome us; her face was turned in our direction, but not to see us. We have not been accepted, welcomed, or taken in. . . . Our life-long nostalgia, our longing to be reunited with something in the universe from which we feel cut off, to be on the inside of some door which we have always seen from the outside, is no mere neurotic fancy, but the truest index of our real situation. The Bible's sweeping theme of exile and homecoming leads to an understanding... Jesus offers more than individual redemption: he promises hope for the world.

[ifoundtrueloveee]

“ In the greatest parable ever told, Jesus revealed that God is like a father watching for your return, who runs when he sees you coming, and who falls on you with hugs and kisses. You may come with your prepared speech, your good intentions, and a desire to serve but he’s not interested in any of that. HE JUST WANTS YOU.”

Paul Ellis

[jaredwhite83]

Thoughts on the Prodigal Son Parable: Part 2

Following the observation I made in Part 1, that both brothers represent the flip side of the same coin in respect to misplaced desires, I found the same holds true regarding their judgments.

After the prodigal son enjoys partying his way and eventually hits rock bottom, he thinks to himself, "It would be a lot better back home with my father, even if I was a servant." His reasoning indicates that he doesn't believe he is worthy to return to his father in the capacity of a son. Instead, he believes that his father's love can be won or lost, depending on his actions. He judges himself and determines that he is only worthy to be a servant.

Likewise, the older brother is convinced that he has somehow earned his father's love. He judges his younger brother saying, "I can't believe you're throwing a party for my brother who wasted his inheritance on prostitutes!" At the same time, the older brother reckons himself worthy of his father's gifts and love. After all, he "never disobeyed orders" and was "constantly slaving" for his father.

Both brothers cast judgments independent from their father's perspective. Their judgment are based on false introspection and shallow comparisons.

Making judgments based on comparison gets us in trouble every time.

It's like trying to construct a building on constantly shifting ground. 

I've been quick to judge others far too many times, and usually what I'm judging them for is a mirror image of the same darkness in my heart or actions. We aren't called to judge but to believe, to trust, to love.

To build something that lasts, you have to build it on solid rock. This is only possible when we see ourselves the way God sees us, when we believe in his love for us, and accept others with the same love that God accepts us. God's love is perfect. It's unshakeable.

God didn't reject the younger brother, so why should we? 

There are two ways to miss out on the party:

By thinking we deserve a party compared to others

By thinking we don't deserve a party compared to others

The thing is, God's the one throwing the party, and it's not just for the cool kids. It's for all his children, just because he loves them. 

I don't know about you, but I'd rather join the party. 

[jaredwhite83]

Thoughts on the Prodigal Son Parable: Part 1

I'm currently part of a men's fellowship group that's going through the book Living in the Light of the Gospel, and the first part of the book covers the Prodigal Son Parable. Last night, during our discussion of the parable, a new meaning jumped out at me.

I was struck by the idea that both sons really represent flip sides of the same coin. Both of them had their minds set on something other than a relationship with the father. They were both more interested in theirs rights as sons, their entitlement, than their identity as sons.

The younger son wanted his inheritance earlier than he was supposed to receive it. He took it and squandered it on what he thought would be more fulfilling than staying at home. Those desires proved empty.

The older son stayed home, but it doesn't appear that he was ever really content with being there. He was jealous that his brother squandered his inheritance and then received even more gifts upon returning home.

Meanwhile, while both sons were looking to superficial desires, the father was desiring a relationship with his sons. The father responds to the older brother's frustration by saying, "you were with me" all this time. In other words, "wasn't being with me enough?"

The older and younger brothers represent different ends of the spectrum of misplaced desires.

What are your desires? Where do they come from? Is your identity in what you are doing or what you have? Or, is your identity in a relationship with God? Is being with him enough? If being with the Father isn't enough, then eating in luxury will cause just as much discontent as eating with the pigs.