An application from the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Luke 15:11-32
Some reflections on relationship dynamics:
the younger son asked for what he shouldn’t have, causing grief to his father, basically wishing he was dead!
the father gave him what he asked for.
the son left his home in a hurtful way.
the father let him go.
the son lived a life of wasteful rebellion.
the father stayed home and grieved the loss of his son.
when the son returned the father declared him alive from the dead!!
Questions to ask:
• Would the son have come to his senses and returned repentant if the father had gone after him?
• The son said “I will get up and go to my father . . .“
• Was this made possible for the son to achieve (repent and return) because the father never changed the boundaries?
• Would there have been a place to come home to if the father had gone to where the son was?
The father was powerless as a parent to impact his son while in that rebellious state. All the while his heart was still the same towards his son. This was evidenced by his actions as soon as he saw the son coming home “from a long way off”, he ran!! to him and welcomed him home and gave him more than the son could have imagined or thought. (1 Cor 2:9)
but just as it is written, “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”
Think carefully before you attempt to move the boundaries of a safe space! It might make the return of someone who is lost more difficult or even impossible. It is wiser to let what is holy stay holy, calling the wayward home. Keep your heart tender toward the person who is estranged. Pray and look for them to return and repent. When/if they do, run toward them and embrace them with God’s love and grace. (Galatians 6:1-2)
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
See also 2 Cor 2:5-8🔸
"The whole world lies in the grip of the evil one." -- 1 John 5:19
"The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick, who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9
"Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery." Hebrews 2:14-15
"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." Romans 10:8-10
The world is at enmity with God; there is no remedy for this. (James 4:4, John 15:18) However the hearts of people are redeemable and will be changed from hearts of stone to hearts of flesh (2 Cor 3:3) when we place our faith in Jesus! We can be sure that we are transferred from the kingdom of darkness and the world into the kingdom of His Son Jesus. Col 1:13
Through the proclamation of the Gospel the Spirit of God changes the hearts of men, women and children. He has done so for millennia and will continue do so!
The mustard seed plant:
is invasive; once taking root in the ground, it spreads fast.
crowds out and destroys other plants.
dominates the soil until it owns the whole field.
is feared by farmers because it is difficult to control.
becomes a large shrub, and is impossible to remove.
So, when Jesus spoke of faith "as a mustard seed" His listeners didn't think "tiny". They thought - uncontainable, invasive, dominating, unstoppable." -- I never knew this about the mustard seed. So as men of faith we should be like this, rather than focusing on just the "small" aspect of the parable.
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