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I sometime wonder about believers who thing that dedicated Christians should never get sick. Sometimes I hear that I am being punished for some sort of sin in my life, or that I do not have enough faith. This kind of criticism is often more hurtful than the physical pain itself.
Where do we get this idea that Christians should not get sick? It certainly is not scriptural... Look at the life of Paul for example. He writes of illness in many of his letters. He mentions Timothy's stomach problems and other ailments, he talks about his friend Epaphroditus who was sick and almost died. Paul himself had a thorn in his flesh, which most theologians believe was some type of illness.
We live in a fallen world, things are not perfect here; and that includes our bodies.
The questions should be:
How do we see illness through the eyes of faith?
Where is God to be found in the experience of illness?
The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 8:28 that God can bring good out of any situation:
Romans 8:28-29 (New International Version) 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Surely then, God can bring good out of the brokenness of physical illness. Illness can teach us humility, it reminds us of our physical limitations. It helps us understand that we are not going to live forever, and that we need to make best of the short time we have on this earth. We can learn and grow so much through illness.
We live in the land of the dying, and then when we pass from this life, we go to the land of the living.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Recent Health Challenges
I thought I would take a moment to write a bit about what has been occurring in my life over the past month. I plan to write further blog entries relating to these events. So, it I thought it would be beneficial to bring you up to speed.
As you may or may not know, I have been sick for a number of years. I do not want to get into the details of the last several years, I will other posts at a later time to bring you up to speed.
Over the last couple of years, I have been passing out anywhere from 2-6 times per week. Many times these incidents have caused me to go to the hospital for stitches and other medical treatment. It was believed by the doctors and myself that the reason I was passing out was due to pain.
At the beginning of this year things took a change for the worse. I could not stand without immediately passing out. I went into the hospital early in January of 2011 and remained there until early February 2011. This was a very trying time. But, God had revealed himself to me in many different ways during this time, hence the reason for these blog entries.
Over the period of several weeks, the doctors struggled to find the reason I was passing out. I spent the most part of 3 weeks bed-ridden; only barely making it to and from the bathroom. And even then would periodically pass out. After some time, Dr. changes, medical tests, and I am sure wisdom from God, it was determined that my adrenal glands had failed.
The adrenal gland produces cortisol. One way the body uses this cortisol in the blood vessels. When a person stands, the blood vessels in the body are required to restrict in order to keep blood flow uniform in the body (to prevent the blood from succumbing to gravity and pooling in the legs.) Without the natural cortisol in my system, my blood pressure would drop about 100 points from lying to standing. This is very dangerous, as such a dramatic drop will cause one to pass out, as well as cause many other medical issues. The common medical name is: Addison's Disease
Currently, I am taking medications to supplement/replace the cortisol that my body no longer produces. I am on the mend, medications are still being adjusted, and God still reigns and rules in my life.
Watch for future posts relating to what God has taught/showed me throughout this time.
Have you ever dealt with any health issues in your life? What has God shown/done in your life during these times?
As you may or may not know, I have been sick for a number of years. I do not want to get into the details of the last several years, I will other posts at a later time to bring you up to speed.
Over the last couple of years, I have been passing out anywhere from 2-6 times per week. Many times these incidents have caused me to go to the hospital for stitches and other medical treatment. It was believed by the doctors and myself that the reason I was passing out was due to pain.
At the beginning of this year things took a change for the worse. I could not stand without immediately passing out. I went into the hospital early in January of 2011 and remained there until early February 2011. This was a very trying time. But, God had revealed himself to me in many different ways during this time, hence the reason for these blog entries.
Over the period of several weeks, the doctors struggled to find the reason I was passing out. I spent the most part of 3 weeks bed-ridden; only barely making it to and from the bathroom. And even then would periodically pass out. After some time, Dr. changes, medical tests, and I am sure wisdom from God, it was determined that my adrenal glands had failed.
The adrenal gland produces cortisol. One way the body uses this cortisol in the blood vessels. When a person stands, the blood vessels in the body are required to restrict in order to keep blood flow uniform in the body (to prevent the blood from succumbing to gravity and pooling in the legs.) Without the natural cortisol in my system, my blood pressure would drop about 100 points from lying to standing. This is very dangerous, as such a dramatic drop will cause one to pass out, as well as cause many other medical issues. The common medical name is: Addison's Disease
Currently, I am taking medications to supplement/replace the cortisol that my body no longer produces. I am on the mend, medications are still being adjusted, and God still reigns and rules in my life.
Watch for future posts relating to what God has taught/showed me throughout this time.
Have you ever dealt with any health issues in your life? What has God shown/done in your life during these times?
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Serve them as I have served you…
Serve them as I have served you…
–Pastor Russ Atter
October 2, 2009
A few months ago, I met a lady who is 62 years old. She has a small weak frame and a quiet spirit. Her first words to me were: “I don’t know what to do.” I proceeded to ask her questions about her situation. Actually, there were many situations she was dealing with. The combination of these things had cost her to lose hope, not only in God, but in all people in general, including herself. Most of the situations she was dealing with were caused by her own doing and actions, or lack of action.
Her lack of desire to live and be a part of life had caused her to neglect many things. These things included her health, spiritual well being and many financial obligations, primarily her rent. She had recently received a five day eviction notice and was paralyzed by the situation.
I directed her to many agencies in town that could help her. One of the agencies had helped her make an agreement with her landlord to pay her rent and catch up on her back rent. She was pleased. But, due to her lack of motivation, depression, and spiritual oppression she quickly failed to keep her agreement. She received another eviction notice, this time with no way of reconciliation with the landlord.
Again, I directed her to resources which could help her. But once again, due to her lack of motivation and no will to live, she was paralyzed by the situation.
So, I ask myself and God; “What can I do to help a person who has no desire to help themselves?”
God responded; “Pray, Pray, Pray and love her as Christ loves you.”
The woman began to pack her things and look for a new apartment. She tried the best she could, which wasn’t much, due to her broken spirit and lack of will to live…
This brings me to Thursday, October 1, 2009. The woman came to see me, sickly looking as ever. She appeared confused, in pain, and barely content. She again told me; “I do know what I’m going to do.” She then slumped unconsciously on to the couch. I was having difficulty having a coherent conversation with her while she was slipping in and out of consciousness. I called an ambulance…
I met the woman a few hours later at the hospital. She was more alert and able to have a conversation with me. It is not relevant what was medically wrong with her. What I saw was a lady with no spirit. She had no desire to live; she was empty, hollow, and incomplete without Christ. So what does one do in this situation? You listen…
You may not have the answers. You may not even know where to begin or what you can do to help. This is the time to stop, listen, and silently ask God for wisdom. So, I sat and listened…
The woman was originally from another state. She came to Wisconsin with a man who died shortly after moving here.
She was never married, no children and next to no family. She has a sister on one side of the country and one on the other – neither of which she has seen in many years.
After her friend died, she began to withdraw into herself, isolating and hence the sickness of emptiness, hopelessness, and life without God crept in. This happened many years ago and she began to live this pattern of life. No friends, no acquaintances, no connections, no spirit, far away from God, the giver of hope and life.
She continued telling me that she had to be out of her apartment today – October 2!! This is when God spoke to me and said; “Trust me and you will be fishers of men, serve this woman as I have served you.
I began to think of my physical weakness and began telling God; “There is no way for me to help her move her things, her apartment. I don’t know how I can move her things, I don’t have a truck, and besides I have no idea where to put it all.”
So again God spoke; “Trust me, and I will make you fishers of mean, serve her as I have served you.” So I trusted God. I told the frail woman; “Don’t worry I will make sure everything is taken care of.” “Oh God, now what – how, when, where?” He spoke, “Trust me and I will make you fishers of men, and serve her as I have served you.” Again, I trusted God, I told her; “I would take care of everything”… by faith.
I began to talk to her about our Savior. I told her He is the one that will fill her emptiness, loneliness and hopelessness. She began to cry. I prayed…. It appeared that light began to enter her eyes. The nurse entered the room, exclaiming; “What happened, you look so much better?”
She was admitted to the hospital, less concerned about the situation she was in. We prayed again, though she was quiet, the tears ran down her cheek.
I got up this morning and began to think about how God was going to provide. Within a few minutes and a few phone calls, God provided a truck, a storage unit, and other believers with servants’ hearts to move her things. God provided a temporary home for her cat, her only friend and companion – the only reason that up to this point gave her a reason to live.
During the day, while loading her things into the truck, God provided two individuals ---- with servants’ hearts who were not believers. People one would never expect to freely give their time and energy.
I was reminded… “Trust me and I will make you fishers of men; serve them as I have served you.” The other believers that were helping had opportunity to share Christ with these two men. These two men were homeless; no place to live, no money, no food, but they were willing to provide their time. God was able to use us to minister to these men. We were able to share ministry groups and other opportunities to grow. Will we ever see these men again? I don’t know, but seeds were planted.
So the apartment is empty and all of her stuff is in the storage unit. She is resting in the hospital, with a fertile heart, seeds planted and ready to be watered and cared for as they grow.
So I come to now, the end of the day. I am not sure where and what God will do and work from here. But he said; “Trust me, and I will make you fishers of men, serve them as I have served you.”
I do not share this story to glorify myself, but in humility to glorify how God can work even when we don’t know how, or we lack faith and think the mountain is too big to handle. It is clear to me; this is what God meant – “Serve others like I have served you.”
–Pastor Russ Atter
October 2, 2009
A few months ago, I met a lady who is 62 years old. She has a small weak frame and a quiet spirit. Her first words to me were: “I don’t know what to do.” I proceeded to ask her questions about her situation. Actually, there were many situations she was dealing with. The combination of these things had cost her to lose hope, not only in God, but in all people in general, including herself. Most of the situations she was dealing with were caused by her own doing and actions, or lack of action.
Her lack of desire to live and be a part of life had caused her to neglect many things. These things included her health, spiritual well being and many financial obligations, primarily her rent. She had recently received a five day eviction notice and was paralyzed by the situation.
I directed her to many agencies in town that could help her. One of the agencies had helped her make an agreement with her landlord to pay her rent and catch up on her back rent. She was pleased. But, due to her lack of motivation, depression, and spiritual oppression she quickly failed to keep her agreement. She received another eviction notice, this time with no way of reconciliation with the landlord.
Again, I directed her to resources which could help her. But once again, due to her lack of motivation and no will to live, she was paralyzed by the situation.
So, I ask myself and God; “What can I do to help a person who has no desire to help themselves?”
God responded; “Pray, Pray, Pray and love her as Christ loves you.”
The woman began to pack her things and look for a new apartment. She tried the best she could, which wasn’t much, due to her broken spirit and lack of will to live…
This brings me to Thursday, October 1, 2009. The woman came to see me, sickly looking as ever. She appeared confused, in pain, and barely content. She again told me; “I do know what I’m going to do.” She then slumped unconsciously on to the couch. I was having difficulty having a coherent conversation with her while she was slipping in and out of consciousness. I called an ambulance…
I met the woman a few hours later at the hospital. She was more alert and able to have a conversation with me. It is not relevant what was medically wrong with her. What I saw was a lady with no spirit. She had no desire to live; she was empty, hollow, and incomplete without Christ. So what does one do in this situation? You listen…
You may not have the answers. You may not even know where to begin or what you can do to help. This is the time to stop, listen, and silently ask God for wisdom. So, I sat and listened…
The woman was originally from another state. She came to Wisconsin with a man who died shortly after moving here.
She was never married, no children and next to no family. She has a sister on one side of the country and one on the other – neither of which she has seen in many years.
After her friend died, she began to withdraw into herself, isolating and hence the sickness of emptiness, hopelessness, and life without God crept in. This happened many years ago and she began to live this pattern of life. No friends, no acquaintances, no connections, no spirit, far away from God, the giver of hope and life.
She continued telling me that she had to be out of her apartment today – October 2!! This is when God spoke to me and said; “Trust me and you will be fishers of men, serve this woman as I have served you.
I began to think of my physical weakness and began telling God; “There is no way for me to help her move her things, her apartment. I don’t know how I can move her things, I don’t have a truck, and besides I have no idea where to put it all.”
So again God spoke; “Trust me, and I will make you fishers of mean, serve her as I have served you.” So I trusted God. I told the frail woman; “Don’t worry I will make sure everything is taken care of.” “Oh God, now what – how, when, where?” He spoke, “Trust me and I will make you fishers of men, and serve her as I have served you.” Again, I trusted God, I told her; “I would take care of everything”… by faith.
I began to talk to her about our Savior. I told her He is the one that will fill her emptiness, loneliness and hopelessness. She began to cry. I prayed…. It appeared that light began to enter her eyes. The nurse entered the room, exclaiming; “What happened, you look so much better?”
She was admitted to the hospital, less concerned about the situation she was in. We prayed again, though she was quiet, the tears ran down her cheek.
I got up this morning and began to think about how God was going to provide. Within a few minutes and a few phone calls, God provided a truck, a storage unit, and other believers with servants’ hearts to move her things. God provided a temporary home for her cat, her only friend and companion – the only reason that up to this point gave her a reason to live.
During the day, while loading her things into the truck, God provided two individuals ---- with servants’ hearts who were not believers. People one would never expect to freely give their time and energy.
I was reminded… “Trust me and I will make you fishers of men; serve them as I have served you.” The other believers that were helping had opportunity to share Christ with these two men. These two men were homeless; no place to live, no money, no food, but they were willing to provide their time. God was able to use us to minister to these men. We were able to share ministry groups and other opportunities to grow. Will we ever see these men again? I don’t know, but seeds were planted.
So the apartment is empty and all of her stuff is in the storage unit. She is resting in the hospital, with a fertile heart, seeds planted and ready to be watered and cared for as they grow.
So I come to now, the end of the day. I am not sure where and what God will do and work from here. But he said; “Trust me, and I will make you fishers of men, serve them as I have served you.”
I do not share this story to glorify myself, but in humility to glorify how God can work even when we don’t know how, or we lack faith and think the mountain is too big to handle. It is clear to me; this is what God meant – “Serve others like I have served you.”
Sunday, October 19, 2008
The Prodigal Son...A Different View
The Prodigal Son – from the Father’s Point of view
Throughout Jesus’ time on earth, it seemed he had to answer many questions to defend his mission on earth. The Pharisees continually hounded him with questions that had seemingly obvious answers.
In Luke, Chapter 15 Jesus is answering some of these questions. Let’s step into that time and eavesdrop on the conversation…
The Pharisees are asking him questions and making comments that are similar to these:
Why does this guy spend time with sinners? He welcomes sinners and he eats with them. They are looking at the ministry of Jesus and saying; “Wait; you've got the balance off. You are not giving enough time to the righteous people; you are wasting your time reaching out to the sinners.
Let’s think for a minute… Jesus had no choice but to spend time with sinners… Everybody’s a sinner, so if Jesus was going to spend time with anyone, he would have to spend time with sinners. Yes, that makes sense. But the people he was speaking with did not think about it that way.
So, Jesus answered these seemingly simple questions and comments with parables. The last and the longest of the parables, the Prodigal Son…
The story begins with a Middle Eastern father and his two sons and it's the Middle Eastern father that represents God in this parable.
It is important for us to think about this story in the time of Christ…it was not written with a father from the 21st century. The father did not drive to work each day, earn his pay, and spend time with his middle class family. No one in this time heard of ‘My Three Sons’, ‘The Simpsons’, ‘South Park’, Little House on the Prairie’ or ‘The Waltons. (Good night John Boy…)
The people in this time thought of a Middle Eastern father who had a certain sort of dignity who is expected to act a certain way, to carry out certain responsibilities… In this parable, Jesus shares how this father is extremely ‘out there’. He does not carry himself as a father should in the mind of the Pharisees. (God, our father also shows us amazing love, love that is not expected from the creator of the universe.)
And so Jesus begins – Luke 15:11-13
"There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. 13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
The story begins with an unbelievable destruction of a family in a family relationship. In this time, no son makes a request (or a command) of his father such as this. The father did not have all of his money in a bank, IRA, mutual funds, or the stock market. The wealth of the father was in his land, in his material estate. He could not just write the boy a check and send him on his way. Besides, an inheritance is not given until the death of the father…this was completely out of the ordinary. The son might as well of said to the father, ‘I wish you were dead, I want what is owed to me.’ This is beyond normal…extremely brave and prideful of the son.
I am sure as Jesus told the story his audience did not see what was coming. I am sure they thought the father should have told the son to take a hike; he should have scolded him, or at least smacked him up the side of the head. That is what was expected of a Middle Eastern father in this time.
Jesus surprises them…the father is willing to be hurt by his son without becoming angry. The father had so much love for his son, that he put the rejection behind, divided the property, and gave the son his share.
The father’s wealth was in his land, in order to give the son his share; he had to give him some of his land, his inheritance. What good would the land be to the son, he needed to sell it, so he could get some cash and be on his way. Thus far the humiliation of the situation was within the family. In order for the son to sell the land, he most likely went to town and sought a buyer. Now the family’s dirty laundry is exposed.
Let's go to Verse 14 and 16. It begins with Verse 13, he goes to a distant country, squanders his wealth and then in Verse 14 it begins.14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
The son took his money and had a hay day with it. He spends it on the joys of life, until it was gone. He ends up starving and feeding pigs.
I am sure the people listening to Jesus at that point are thinking; good for him that is what he had coming. God’s wrath is on the boy. Maybe the father had known this was going to happen. The father was smarter than he had initially appeared. The people now related to the story; or at least they thought they did. This is what this selfish son deserved.
Jesus goes on; beginning in Verse 17.
17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So he got up and went to his father.
The son comes to his senses. After the way he humiliated his family, he thought there might be a slim chance they would take him back. It did not matter what the father did to him, he wanted to go home. It would be much better than dying in the situation he was in.
He did not expect to be accepted back in the family. He thinks of how he will approach his father. Maybe he can just be a servant, and earn a little of his father’s love. He had to make up somehow for what he did. Though it was a hopeless plan, but what else was he to do.
As Jesus told this story what were the listeners thinking. This rude foolish boy is going to humbly go back to his father. His father would be stern, his wrath would be strong. He would teach his son a lesson that he would never forget.
Jesus continues; let’s take a look at Verse 20 to 24.
20"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.
22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
This is becoming confusing to Jesus’ audience. How did the father see the son way off? The father most likely lived in a village, with walls. There would be no practical way for him to see his son far off. He probably walked to the gates of the village often, looking for his son. Think about it; how many times did he go to the gate and look?
Jesus then surprises his audience with the father’s compassion. Why would he run out to meet his son? He should wait for him, and scold him when he arrives. Maybe, even tell him, he had chosen to leave the family and he is not welcome back.
The father sees him far away and then is filled with compassion. He ran to his son. What? This dignified Middle Eastern father ran to his son. He had a robe on, and had status, imagine him running. He was a wealthy man, and most likely had a very nice robe on. Can you see him running, lifting up his robe, exposing his bony old legs?
He was humiliated when his son left, now he was humiliating himself
When the father reaches his son, he grabs him and kisses him. He hugged him with love even before the son began to beg for mercy. He hadn’t groveled or asked to be a servant; the father never gave him a chance.
The father welcomes him back into the family. He sent for his best robe, not just any robe, but his best robe. He gave him a ring, a symbol of belonging to the family, a way to show who he was; a wealthy father’s son. He accepted the son with dignity, and then there was a party. This party was not for the son, but it was for the compassion and the love that the father had for his son.
I am sure that Jesus’ audience thought this was the end of the story. They did not understand the point. But, it ended well, it was a good story.
Jesus begins to talk about the older son in verses 25-30.
25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
The older son is angry. He disrespects his father by not welcoming his brother (his father’s son.) He mopes outside, and the father has to go out and deal with him. The father again has to reach out and try to reconcile the family.
Again, I am sure that the father was humiliated by his older son. He should respect his father, and love the fact that the younger son returned; the family was whole again.
Jesus was telling his audience that this where the love of God is different than what they expected. This is who our God is, like the father in the story, he has his arms open wide.
God is willing to reach out with a sacrificial love. He did this through Jesus. Jesus suffered and faced humiliation for us. Do you think that when Jesus was on the cross he thought about how humiliated he was, how messed up? No, he thought about you and he looked at you, forgiving you, taking your punishment.
It may be easy for us to understand the correlation of the younger son being welcomed home, is as we are welcomed by God’s grace. Do we sometimes fall into the dangerous attitude of the older son? We feel that we are good people, and God has done wonderful things for us. But, we also understand that he is not done with us yet.
We begin to look at other people who are lost, and think they are too far gone for God to spend any time on them. Why would he waste his time on those people? Why would he spend time on the destitute, the poor, the unlovable, and the ones that our society has given up on? We do not want to get involved and like the older son are unwilling to share our hearts with the father.
Our community, country, and world are full of people that need to be touched by the father. How will they hear his voice? Who will share the love of the father with these social outcasts?
Why is Jesus spending time with people who seemed unworthy? God loves these people, He is longing for them to come home. God’s compassion for them is not a measure of how little we may think of them. He wants to throw a party and celebrate the fact that they have accepted his grace.
Jesus shared this love for us when we came to him. We live in this love right now. We need to be the voice of God to the lost. We are called to share Christ with the world. It makes no difference how society views them; they are valuable jewels to God.
Let’s share the love of Christ, and not be hindered by our pride, self-righteousness and the value we put on other people. We need to look at them as Christ looked at us…with compassion, love, and hope.
Throughout Jesus’ time on earth, it seemed he had to answer many questions to defend his mission on earth. The Pharisees continually hounded him with questions that had seemingly obvious answers.
In Luke, Chapter 15 Jesus is answering some of these questions. Let’s step into that time and eavesdrop on the conversation…
The Pharisees are asking him questions and making comments that are similar to these:
Why does this guy spend time with sinners? He welcomes sinners and he eats with them. They are looking at the ministry of Jesus and saying; “Wait; you've got the balance off. You are not giving enough time to the righteous people; you are wasting your time reaching out to the sinners.
Let’s think for a minute… Jesus had no choice but to spend time with sinners… Everybody’s a sinner, so if Jesus was going to spend time with anyone, he would have to spend time with sinners. Yes, that makes sense. But the people he was speaking with did not think about it that way.
So, Jesus answered these seemingly simple questions and comments with parables. The last and the longest of the parables, the Prodigal Son…
The story begins with a Middle Eastern father and his two sons and it's the Middle Eastern father that represents God in this parable.
It is important for us to think about this story in the time of Christ…it was not written with a father from the 21st century. The father did not drive to work each day, earn his pay, and spend time with his middle class family. No one in this time heard of ‘My Three Sons’, ‘The Simpsons’, ‘South Park’, Little House on the Prairie’ or ‘The Waltons. (Good night John Boy…)
The people in this time thought of a Middle Eastern father who had a certain sort of dignity who is expected to act a certain way, to carry out certain responsibilities… In this parable, Jesus shares how this father is extremely ‘out there’. He does not carry himself as a father should in the mind of the Pharisees. (God, our father also shows us amazing love, love that is not expected from the creator of the universe.)
And so Jesus begins – Luke 15:11-13
"There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. 13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
The story begins with an unbelievable destruction of a family in a family relationship. In this time, no son makes a request (or a command) of his father such as this. The father did not have all of his money in a bank, IRA, mutual funds, or the stock market. The wealth of the father was in his land, in his material estate. He could not just write the boy a check and send him on his way. Besides, an inheritance is not given until the death of the father…this was completely out of the ordinary. The son might as well of said to the father, ‘I wish you were dead, I want what is owed to me.’ This is beyond normal…extremely brave and prideful of the son.
I am sure as Jesus told the story his audience did not see what was coming. I am sure they thought the father should have told the son to take a hike; he should have scolded him, or at least smacked him up the side of the head. That is what was expected of a Middle Eastern father in this time.
Jesus surprises them…the father is willing to be hurt by his son without becoming angry. The father had so much love for his son, that he put the rejection behind, divided the property, and gave the son his share.
The father’s wealth was in his land, in order to give the son his share; he had to give him some of his land, his inheritance. What good would the land be to the son, he needed to sell it, so he could get some cash and be on his way. Thus far the humiliation of the situation was within the family. In order for the son to sell the land, he most likely went to town and sought a buyer. Now the family’s dirty laundry is exposed.
Let's go to Verse 14 and 16. It begins with Verse 13, he goes to a distant country, squanders his wealth and then in Verse 14 it begins.14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
The son took his money and had a hay day with it. He spends it on the joys of life, until it was gone. He ends up starving and feeding pigs.
I am sure the people listening to Jesus at that point are thinking; good for him that is what he had coming. God’s wrath is on the boy. Maybe the father had known this was going to happen. The father was smarter than he had initially appeared. The people now related to the story; or at least they thought they did. This is what this selfish son deserved.
Jesus goes on; beginning in Verse 17.
17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So he got up and went to his father.
The son comes to his senses. After the way he humiliated his family, he thought there might be a slim chance they would take him back. It did not matter what the father did to him, he wanted to go home. It would be much better than dying in the situation he was in.
He did not expect to be accepted back in the family. He thinks of how he will approach his father. Maybe he can just be a servant, and earn a little of his father’s love. He had to make up somehow for what he did. Though it was a hopeless plan, but what else was he to do.
As Jesus told this story what were the listeners thinking. This rude foolish boy is going to humbly go back to his father. His father would be stern, his wrath would be strong. He would teach his son a lesson that he would never forget.
Jesus continues; let’s take a look at Verse 20 to 24.
20"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.
22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
This is becoming confusing to Jesus’ audience. How did the father see the son way off? The father most likely lived in a village, with walls. There would be no practical way for him to see his son far off. He probably walked to the gates of the village often, looking for his son. Think about it; how many times did he go to the gate and look?
Jesus then surprises his audience with the father’s compassion. Why would he run out to meet his son? He should wait for him, and scold him when he arrives. Maybe, even tell him, he had chosen to leave the family and he is not welcome back.
The father sees him far away and then is filled with compassion. He ran to his son. What? This dignified Middle Eastern father ran to his son. He had a robe on, and had status, imagine him running. He was a wealthy man, and most likely had a very nice robe on. Can you see him running, lifting up his robe, exposing his bony old legs?
He was humiliated when his son left, now he was humiliating himself
When the father reaches his son, he grabs him and kisses him. He hugged him with love even before the son began to beg for mercy. He hadn’t groveled or asked to be a servant; the father never gave him a chance.
The father welcomes him back into the family. He sent for his best robe, not just any robe, but his best robe. He gave him a ring, a symbol of belonging to the family, a way to show who he was; a wealthy father’s son. He accepted the son with dignity, and then there was a party. This party was not for the son, but it was for the compassion and the love that the father had for his son.
I am sure that Jesus’ audience thought this was the end of the story. They did not understand the point. But, it ended well, it was a good story.
Jesus begins to talk about the older son in verses 25-30.
25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
The older son is angry. He disrespects his father by not welcoming his brother (his father’s son.) He mopes outside, and the father has to go out and deal with him. The father again has to reach out and try to reconcile the family.
Again, I am sure that the father was humiliated by his older son. He should respect his father, and love the fact that the younger son returned; the family was whole again.
Jesus was telling his audience that this where the love of God is different than what they expected. This is who our God is, like the father in the story, he has his arms open wide.
God is willing to reach out with a sacrificial love. He did this through Jesus. Jesus suffered and faced humiliation for us. Do you think that when Jesus was on the cross he thought about how humiliated he was, how messed up? No, he thought about you and he looked at you, forgiving you, taking your punishment.
It may be easy for us to understand the correlation of the younger son being welcomed home, is as we are welcomed by God’s grace. Do we sometimes fall into the dangerous attitude of the older son? We feel that we are good people, and God has done wonderful things for us. But, we also understand that he is not done with us yet.
We begin to look at other people who are lost, and think they are too far gone for God to spend any time on them. Why would he waste his time on those people? Why would he spend time on the destitute, the poor, the unlovable, and the ones that our society has given up on? We do not want to get involved and like the older son are unwilling to share our hearts with the father.
Our community, country, and world are full of people that need to be touched by the father. How will they hear his voice? Who will share the love of the father with these social outcasts?
Why is Jesus spending time with people who seemed unworthy? God loves these people, He is longing for them to come home. God’s compassion for them is not a measure of how little we may think of them. He wants to throw a party and celebrate the fact that they have accepted his grace.
Jesus shared this love for us when we came to him. We live in this love right now. We need to be the voice of God to the lost. We are called to share Christ with the world. It makes no difference how society views them; they are valuable jewels to God.
Let’s share the love of Christ, and not be hindered by our pride, self-righteousness and the value we put on other people. We need to look at them as Christ looked at us…with compassion, love, and hope.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Identity...
I have been thinking of the topic - Identity... Partly due to the fact that the Lust Free Living materials that I have been using to lead a group. The first chapter is titled 'Identity...'
Though it may be difficult to understand/discern/conclude; our identity comes from ourselves...what we do...who we are with...where we go (Earthly Identity) – and from God.
Our identity is a combination of our Earthly Identity and our God given Identity; though they can conflict.
When our Earthly Identity conflicts with our God given Identity, we struggle with who we are and who we are to become. The two Identities are like oil and water…they are unable to mix, though they exist side by side.
When our Earthly Identity is in line with our God given Identity, they mold into one…
So, what can we do to align the two…to make our Identity singular.
Matthew 16:25 - For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
This scripture can be interpreted in many ways, but stick with me for a moment as I express a certain view.
Let’s look at this in the capacity of Identity. Rewording the scripture - For whoever wants to save his Earthly Identity will lose it, but whoever loses his Earthly Identity for me will find his God given Identity.
We need to look closely at whom we want to be, and who God wants us to be… We need to look at what we do, who we are with, where we go, and how we live – does it line up with scripture? If not, we are trying to save our Earthly Identity.
It does not mean that our earthly relationships, which may well give us some sense of identity, become unimportant.
David Hyman, of the Overseas Missionary Fellowship in Australia, says:
Our identity as Christians is in Christ. If it is not it must be in something else—our nationality, our family, our friends, our possessions, our job. When all these are removed we have nothing, unless we have our identity founded and fixed in Jesus.
So a choice has to be made. Are we willing to commit our life and future to Him who alone knows fully all that we are and all that we could become?
He desires to give us all that He has planned, that identity in which alone we can find complete fulfillment. He suffered on Calvary to make it possible.
The missionary statesman, Dr E. Stanley Jones said, "One does not know who he is until he knows whose he is."
Saying all of that, the question may still remain – “Who determines our Identity?”
“What is our Identity?”
Who determines our identity? Ultimately – WE DO… WE chose to have a fulfilling life/Identity.
To whom do we belong? Do we belong to a person or our self or do we belong to God? If we belong to our self, we will never find that gelled Identity. We will struggle for purpose, desire, pride, and discontentment.
If we belong to God, we can have purpose, humility, contentment.
Okay, back to who we are. We are created in God’s likeness
According to Scripture, humans are not only the highest of God's acts of creation, they are created in the "likeness" or "image" of God.
"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness'...So God created man in his own image...male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:26, 27).
The rest of the Bible gives us many clues as to what this "likeness to God" is meant to imply.
More to come??? Not sure...
Though it may be difficult to understand/discern/conclude; our identity comes from ourselves...what we do...who we are with...where we go (Earthly Identity) – and from God.
Our identity is a combination of our Earthly Identity and our God given Identity; though they can conflict.
When our Earthly Identity conflicts with our God given Identity, we struggle with who we are and who we are to become. The two Identities are like oil and water…they are unable to mix, though they exist side by side.
When our Earthly Identity is in line with our God given Identity, they mold into one…
So, what can we do to align the two…to make our Identity singular.
Matthew 16:25 - For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
This scripture can be interpreted in many ways, but stick with me for a moment as I express a certain view.
Let’s look at this in the capacity of Identity. Rewording the scripture - For whoever wants to save his Earthly Identity will lose it, but whoever loses his Earthly Identity for me will find his God given Identity.
We need to look closely at whom we want to be, and who God wants us to be… We need to look at what we do, who we are with, where we go, and how we live – does it line up with scripture? If not, we are trying to save our Earthly Identity.
It does not mean that our earthly relationships, which may well give us some sense of identity, become unimportant.
David Hyman, of the Overseas Missionary Fellowship in Australia, says:
Our identity as Christians is in Christ. If it is not it must be in something else—our nationality, our family, our friends, our possessions, our job. When all these are removed we have nothing, unless we have our identity founded and fixed in Jesus.
So a choice has to be made. Are we willing to commit our life and future to Him who alone knows fully all that we are and all that we could become?
He desires to give us all that He has planned, that identity in which alone we can find complete fulfillment. He suffered on Calvary to make it possible.
The missionary statesman, Dr E. Stanley Jones said, "One does not know who he is until he knows whose he is."
Saying all of that, the question may still remain – “Who determines our Identity?”
“What is our Identity?”
Who determines our identity? Ultimately – WE DO… WE chose to have a fulfilling life/Identity.
To whom do we belong? Do we belong to a person or our self or do we belong to God? If we belong to our self, we will never find that gelled Identity. We will struggle for purpose, desire, pride, and discontentment.
If we belong to God, we can have purpose, humility, contentment.
Okay, back to who we are. We are created in God’s likeness
According to Scripture, humans are not only the highest of God's acts of creation, they are created in the "likeness" or "image" of God.
"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness'...So God created man in his own image...male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:26, 27).
The rest of the Bible gives us many clues as to what this "likeness to God" is meant to imply.
More to come??? Not sure...
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