Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sun, 27 Jan 2008 16:39:38 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Jan. 28); BP: Lk. 15:11-24; RBTTY: Mt. 18:21-35; Ex.
January 28 “The Long Journey Home”
“And when he came to himself, he said ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you—and am no more worthy to be called you son; make me as one of your hired servants’. And he arose and came to his father. . .”
Luke 15:17-20a
The most difficult step is the first one, but how sweet the last one when we find ourselves at Home.
Conviction, confession and repentance.
All of us share two fixed “points in time,” which are the same in nature, but different in location. What are these two commonalities? Quite simply “Birth and death.”
We humans are conceived in the same way, although nowadays the process of conception has changed somewhat (e.g., in-vitro fertilization, surrogate mothers, etc.). Even so, there are usually still nine months of pregnancy, followed by the birth of the child. And, the same is true with death, even though the path leading there varies with each individual. Some arrive there suddenly, while others’ journey is quite difficult and painful the last few months or years.
Today’s Manna, taken from Jesus’ parable of “The Prodigal Son,” is somewhat a “Primer In Penitence,” for it shows the spiritual bell-curve of “plenty, poverty and penitence.” Or, a simpler way to put it is we all somewhat start out with a smile on our face and a spring in our step. We’ve got “the tiger by the tail” and set sail for parts unknown, confident that “Today or tomorrow we’ll go into such-and-such a city, continue there a year, buy and sell and make a good profit” (James 4:13).
But, then barrenness comes. The mountaintop gives way to the valley. The fat wallet gives way to lean soul and body. Perhaps we, like the prodigal son, “waste our substance in riotous living” (v.13b)—which, in today’s jargon, means “we partied hardy and blew everything we had on wine, women song.”
Or, it’s possible our “mighty famine of body and soul” (v.14a) arose through no unwise decisions or acts of avarice. We got hit by a drunk, totally destroying our car and leaving us permanently impaired. Our company goes under, leaving us unemployed and penniless. The one who said “Till death we do part” changed his/her mind and split before the undertaker arrived, leaving us alone.
So often empty wallets and “mighty famines” are what it takes for us to “come to ourselves”. . .for “plenty and peaceful seas” make it easy to say “No” to the Heavenly Father. That’s why we should thank Him for our trials, for they remind us of our need of Him. And, hopefully, during that time of “self-realization,” conviction and inward condemnation or contempt, we, like the prodigal son, will say “I will arise and go to the Father.” Conviction is the Spirit’s convincing us of our sins and need. . .confession is agreeing with Him. . .and repentance is taking the first step toward the Father’s arms. May the Spirit help us to be sensitive today to others who need to head Home.
No comments:
Post a Comment