Jesus talks about the lost son

Jesus talks about the parable of the lost son.
Week 2

            As I start my second week in Charis Bible College I’m in awe of what I know I’m going to learn. Through the teachings and the work that they have us do, I feel so blessed to have such a great opportunity from God. A guest speaker Jessie Duplantis was there last night at my church, and this morning at the college. What he shared was incredible and such a message from God. He shared many things, almost too much to write down but not to take to heart. Through everything that was said, it was understandable, and true to whom God really is.
        
           He asked husbands and wife’s if they have ever bought anything for each other or their children that the other person didn’t need. Then he asked grandparent if they have ever bought their grandkids anything they didn’t need. Everybody raised their hand. Now you may ask, why he would ask something like that. We buy things for people we love, we know they may not need it but we know how much they want it. Then he said something that is so true. If we buy things for the people that we love, even if we don’t need it. Why can’t God be like us, why can’t He be a father that loves us and wants to bless us with things? We are called His children, why don’t we call Him our father?  If we do call God our father, why is He only a God of judgment and wrath? That doesn’t sound like a father that sounds like an abuser. God wants to bless us with what we want so we never have a need. When we ask God for things it’s not being prideful, we are simply His children coming to our father. And if someone says asking God for things is prideful. Say it could be growth. When I say growth I’m not talking about growth in the eyes of man. Because then we will become prideful with all we have and lose sight on what Gods plan is.

         Jessie taught today of the parable of the lost son. If you don’t know the story it starts off with Jesus talking about a man with two sons, the younger son asked his father to give him his share of his father estate. The son’s father then divided his property between both sons. Later on the youngest son gathered all he had, set off towards a distant land, and lost all he had worthless living. After the son had spent all he had there was a severe famine in the land. He later came to his senses and thought he could get a job working for his father, because he felt unworthy to be called his father’s son. As the son was still a far way out his father saw him coming in the distance and ran to him, and embraced him. In Luke chapter 15 verse 21 we see the son’s response to his father’s actions “The son said to him, ‘father I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But instead of being angry with his son the father said in the following verse, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fatted calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is now found.” What would your first reaction be if your son came home after being gone, and told you he lost every penny that you had given him? My first reaction would be anger; here is my son who did nothing but waist all I’ve given him on worthless earthly things. But no the father throws a celebration for him, gives him the best robe he has, puts a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet, and kills the best calf he has for the meal.
       
             You may be asking or wondering if you don’t know the story where the eldest son is during all this, you may think he is celebrating too because his brother has returned. No, he is outside in the field angry. His little brother comes home after spending his riches on ‘prostitutes’ as he says and his father throws him a party. When all this time he the older son has spent his life following his father and obeying his every order, never got a party. In verse 31 the father reply’s to the older son, he says “my son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is now alive again; he was lost and is now found.”

             Now here is where my question comes in. Jesus himself told us this parable.  Why is it that when someone close to us falls away from God, do we think there is no help for them? Why do we kick them to the curb and forget about them instead of going to them and helping them with their fall. Also, when we see someone get a raise or bonus on a job, or someone who is healed of a sickness do we feel selfish, because you may be asking for the same thing? Why can’t we be blessed by their blessing? When you see someone’s gain, you never lose.  Why is it when a friend says he got a job after waiting a long time do we say ‘man that’s a blessing’ even when we don’t mean it? Why can’t we give them a high five and celebrate even though you may have waited longer and may still be waiting for a job? As I said before you can never lose with someone else’s gain, you can celebrate with them, then feed off of it by saying Father thank you for blessing them with a job, thank you for the job that you have provided for me, bless me as much as you have blessed them. Let God be the loving Father He wants to be, let Him bless you with things you may not need, but want. Let God give you rest as it says in Psalms 23. Thanks for reading and I hope God blesses you with an abundance of joy and rest as much as He is showing me.