Luke 15:1 The tax-collectors and sinners kept gathering around to hear Yeshua, 2 and the P’rushim and Torah-teachers kept grumbling. “This fellow,” they said, “welcomes sinners — he even eats with them!”
11 Again Yeshua said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that will be mine.’ So the father divided the property between them. 13 As soon as he could convert his share into cash, the younger son left home and went off to a distant country, where he squandered his money in reckless living. 14 But after he had spent it all, a severe famine arose throughout that country, and he began to feel the pinch.
15 “So he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him any.
17 “At last he came to his senses and said, ‘Any number of my father’s hired workers have food to spare; and here I am, starving to death! 18 I’m going to get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers.” ’ 20 So he got up and started back to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran and threw his arms around him and kissed him warmly. 21 His 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 his father said to his slaves, ‘Quick, bring out a robe, the best one, and put it on him; and put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet; 23 and bring the calf that has been fattened up, and kill it. Let’s eat and have a celebration! 24 For this son of mine was dead, but now he’s alive again! He was lost, but now he has been found!’ And they began celebrating.
25 “Now his older son was in the field. As he came close to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked, ‘What’s going on?’ 27 The servant told him, ‘Your brother has come back, and your father has slaughtered the calf that was fattened up, because he has gotten him back safe and sound.’ 28 But the older son became angry and refused to go inside.
“So his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 ‘Look,’ the son answered, ‘I have worked for you all these years, and I have never disobeyed your orders. But you have never even given me a young goat, so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30 Yet this son of yours comes, who squandered your property with prostitutes, and for him you slaughter the fattened calf!’ 31 ‘Son, you are always with me,’ said the father, ‘and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead but has come back to life — he was lost but has been found.’”
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Reflection Questions:
Jesus told this story to “tax collectors and sinners,” people who had given up on God. Why
not? They thought God had given up on them. The “church people” they knew criticized Jesus for even talking to them (Luke 15:1-2). But Jesus also directed the story to those very people who criticized him. He added the older brother, the “good” son, who thought he deserved more honor and was not glad that his brother had returned. At story’s end, the father pleaded with the older brother to join the party: “We had to celebrate and be glad because this brother of yours was dead and is alive. He was lost and is found” (verse 32).
• The phrase “burning your bridges behind you” came from generals who wanted their
soldiers to know there was no chance of retreat if they lost a battle. Now it often stands for ruined relationships. The younger brother had surely burned his bridges. Are you near God or far away? If far, what’s blocking you from “going home”? In light of Jesus’ story, can you picture God waiting with open arms for you?
• The servant in the story said, “Your brother has arrived.” When the father came out to him, the older son said, “This son of yours returned.” The father shifted the relationship back: “This brother of yours,” he said. In your imagination, argue the older brother’s case: why didn’t the younger one deserve to be welcomed home? In what ways was the “good” brother’s reaction out of harmony with the father’s wishes?
Prayer: O Jesus, I’ve wandered away from you many times, either in short or long distances. Thank you that each time I come home, you run down the road to embrace and welcome me. Amen.
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Insights from Janelle Gregory
Janelle Gregory serves on the Resurrection staff as a Human Resources Specialist.I think most children are completely oblivious to the amount of money and effort that goes into throwing a party. It’s so much work between planning, inviting, prepping, cleaning, shopping, entertaining, and then more cleaning after the party is over. It can be exhausting. I’ve approached a stage in my life when the level to which I will celebrate something has come down to a simple algebraic formula. Here’s my celebration equation:
If the Degree of Celebrating is anything but a whole number, forget it. It’s not worth it.
I think about this when I read the story of the prodigal son. We see the father’s reaction to his repentant son returning home after wasting the inheritance. He ran to his son, hugged him, kissed him, and without hesitation, he ordered that there be a huge feast. “Call the neighbors, the band, and the caterer. Be sure to rent a disco ball. Everyone, put on your dancing shoes! We’re going to party like we’ve never partied before! My son has come home!”You can picture the excitement, can’t you? With that kind of celebration, you know how much it meant for that father to have his son return.
I think that if you’ve been a Christian for some time, you may be able to imagine that there was once a time when God celebrated your homecoming, when you decided that you were going to follow Christ. Most of us assume that if there was ever a celebration, the party is long over – the décor is not only down, it’s decomposing at the bottom of a landfill.
We step into the background and resign ourselves to focus all attention on celebrating the homecomings of others. But at what point does a parent stop celebrating a long-lost child coming home? Does that joy ever completely go away? I have to wonder if God’s party dies down or if it just builds as each child returns home. Maybe the focus of the party doesn’t shift, but rather it expands.
I believe that God is still throwing a party, and part of that is to celebrate you. He delights in you, and in no way has he forgotten or overlooked that you are part of the family. You are loved, and he has never taken down that banner with your name on it.
Being a Christian isn’t all about fun and games, but I think that we insult the party Host when we play the part of wallflower at the feast. We’re home, and our Father is ecstatic! This should stir up an excitement in us that makes us want to party like there is no tomorrow. We’re no longer lost. We’re back in the arms of our Father, and this is definitely worth celebrating!
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"If we deserved it, it wouldn’t be grace" for Friday, 7 October 2016
Romans 4:2 For if Avraham came to be considered righteous by God because of legalistic observances, then he has something to boast about. But this is not how it is before God! 3 For what does the Tanakh say? “Avraham put his trust in God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness.”[Romans 4:3 Genesis 15:6] 4 Now the account of someone who is working is credited not on the ground of grace but on the ground of what is owed him. 5 However, in the case of one who is not working but rather is trusting in him who makes ungodly people righteous, his trust is credited to him as righteousness.
6 In the same way, the blessing which David pronounces is on those whom God credits with righteousness apart from legalistic observances:
7 “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered over;
8 Blessed is the man whose sin Adonai
will not reckon against his account.”[Romans 4:8 Psalm 32:1–2]
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Reflection Questions:
In today’s reading, the apostle Paul took over an accounting metaphor that was first used in Genesis 15 to convey a key Christian truth: God “credits” our faith to us as righteousness! Psalm 32 used the flip side of that image: “Happy are those whose sin isn’t counted against them by the Lord.” God’s grace sees us as much more than we are. God sees us as we can become as committed members of his family.
• Paul quoted Psalm 32. The psalmist (likely King David himself) wrote of a time when he hid his sin, and things got worse and worse. “Then,” he wrote, “I acknowledged my sin to you… and you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32:5). When have you found peace and
renewed life by acknowledging how much you need God’s forgiveness, and accepting it?
• School grades, workplace paychecks, promotions—Paul said we get those, not as gifts, but because we deserve them. But God counts us as having a clean slate, and eternal life, even though we don’t deserve them. When did you last thank God for heaven’s gracious way of accounting, and really mean it? Why not thank God right now?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that instead of a stern, unbending standard, your heavenly
accounting toward me follows the generous standard of forgiveness and grace. Amen.
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"A parable came to life—on two crosses" for Saturday, 8 October 2016
Luke 23:32 Two other men, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to the place called The Skull, they nailed him to a stake; and they nailed the criminals to stakes, one on the right and one on the left. 34 Yeshua said, “Father, forgive them; they don’t understand what they are doing.”
They divided up his clothes by throwing dice.[Luke 23:34 Psalm 22:19(18)] 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at him.[Luke 23:35 Psalm 22:8(7)] “He saved others,” they said, “so if he really is the Messiah, the one chosen by God, let him save himself!” 36 The soldiers too ridiculed him; they came up, offered him vinegar[Luke 23:36 Psalm 69:22(21)] 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 And there was a notice over him which read,
THIS IS
THE KING OF THE JEWS
39 One of the criminals hanging there hurled insults at him. “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other one spoke up and rebuked the first, saying, “Have you no fear of God? You’re getting the same punishment as he is. 41 Ours is only fair; we’re getting what we deserve for what we did. But this man did nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Yeshua, remember me when you come as King.” 43 Yeshua said to him, “Yes! I promise that you will be with me today in Gan-‘Eden.”
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Reflection Questions:
Luke’s whole gospel showed Jesus’ love for all who are outcast and looked down on. That did not stop even when the Romans crucified Jesus—the most painful and humiliating form of execution they could devise. Acceptance and generosity often seem to come more easily
when we are safe and comfortable ourselves. That’s what makes this story so remarkable.
Even from the cross, Jesus’ prayer for the soldiers crucifying him, and his pledge to the man who asked for a place in his kingdom showed clearly that he wanted to extend grace to absolutely everyone. He had not a word of reproof for the thief not having worked all day—he graciously welcomed him home.
• While soldiers rolled dice to see which of them would get Jesus’ clothes, and religious rulers sneered, Jesus asked God to forgive them. They were not seeking forgiveness, and we do not know how many of them Jesus’ generous prayer reached. But what an extraordinary request the crucified thief made! What made him think this man crucified next to him would ever even have a kingdom? Have you ever felt (or known someone who felt) that “I’ve done too much—waited too long—I can’t turn to God now?” What does the thief’s request and Jesus’ response say to that attitude? Have you ever felt “unforgivable”? Can you accept that Jesus is willing to forgive you, no matter what you’ve done that needs forgiveness?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, your cross was all about forgiveness—and your actions made it plain that forgiveness was (and is) much, much more than just some religious theory. Thank you that every day I, like the thief crucified next to you, can trust in your forgiving heart. Amen.
Family Activity: God’s love is for all people. Consider ways your family can include others and let them know they are welcome in God’s family. You might invite a family or some friends to your home for a celebration of God’s love. Design colorful placemats, prepare a simple and fun meal and sing songs of praise to God! Maybe you would like to visit someone who is lonely or make cards for them. Name some of the gifts God has given you and plan a way to use them to share
God’s love. Pray that God would help you celebrate, give thanks for and spread God’s love.
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Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer
Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
•Tracie Wright and family on the death of her father Elven Stoddard, 9/23
•Bob Herndon and family on the death of his father Eugene “Gene” Herndon, 9/20
•Bill Gapske and family on the death of his sister Barbara Glenn, 9/20
• Jennifer Guttu and family on the death of her brother Rick Glenn, 9/20
•Vicki Meeks and family on the death of her brother Ron Malone 9/20
• Lisa Passmore and family on the death of her father Richard Pennington, 9/19
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