What’s On YOUR Mind??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #80

29 Wednesday Mar 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, A heart of faith, Abiding In Jesus, Choices And Consequences, Choose you this day?, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Christ IN YOU, False Lives, Father of lies, Idolatry, IN HIS TIME!, Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Saves!

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What’s On YOUR Mind???    A Word from THE WORD!!! #80

I’m kind of changing course in the middle of the stream; I really wanted to continue in Jeremiah but feel impressed of The Lord to share some difficult things that I hope God can use to touch our hearts and lead us to examine ourselves and the things that we surround ourselves with, as well as the things to which we give our time, effort, trust, and devotion.  The truth is God’s Word IS TRUTH, no matter how we feel about it.  May we each pray for God to open our eyes, hearts, and minds to have HIS view on life, liberty, and our pursuits?

“Search me, O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way

in me,

and lead me

in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139: 23-24

We all make choices every day, and Jesus warns us of the danger of wrong choices–may we heed His words and choose wisely by HIS Spirit and not our own earthly “vision”!

“But seek ye first

the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness;

and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow:

for the morrow shall take thought

for the things of itself.

Sufficient unto the day

is the evil thereof.”  Matthew 6:33-34

Jesus goes on in chapter 7 to warn us (still part of His Sermon on The Mount):

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets,

which come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly

they are ravening wolves.”  Matthew 7:13-15

Paul comes along and warns us of the dangers that will come, and my friends, we are there; his list is like reading the daily news, but it seems that we have become so accustomed to the lies of the enemy of our souls, that we don’t even recognize the danger–we seem to be “getting used to the dark”!

“This know also,

that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be

lovers of their own selves,

covetous,

boasters,

proud,

blasphemers,

disobedient to parents,

 unthankful,

unholy,

3 Without natural affection,

trucebreakers,

false accusers,

incontinent,

fierce,

despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors,

heady,

highminded,

lovers of pleasures

more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness,

but denying the power thereof:

from such turn away.”  2 Timothy 3:1-5

When we read Jeremiah and Lamentations we see a sad reality–that even as Jesus said when He talked to Nicodemus, “men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil…”; and we are no different!  We have allowed the ease and comfort of a prosperous (and yes even we who aren’t what we think wealthy, are part of the 2% of the wealthiest peoples in the world-if we own a refrigerator!) environment, and a church that has been more willing to accommodate sin, than to call us to biblical righteousness!  Go through this list above and think of your own life, the life of those inside our churches, the things that we accept every day because it’s ok to ‘go along to get along’!

I’d like to just name a few things that you might want to take note of and see what you think about them, and then ask, “why” you think it’s ok or not?  Is it a biblical decision or a cultural one–things that we have seen and heard so much, have been incorporated into our culture, our lives and even the very Church of Jesus Christ our Lord!  God forbid!  Think of these popular buzz words and activities, and how far we have come from the truth of God’s Word, all by ourselves; or so we think.  Remember Paul’s words that called us to prepare by putting on that armor of God, “that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil….that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day…” (from Ephesians 6:10-18)!  I can’t help but think that we have laid down on the job rather that “standing” with, for, and through the “power of HIS might”!

Won’t you think with me through a few things that I think worth considering/questioning.

Modesty? —

what is left unseen (male and female) …

Integrity? —

telling the truth in all things, keeping our word…

Biblical view of sexuality? —

“God created them male and female…” (Read Genesis 1-3)

Honesty? —

not taking what’s not ours, rendering unto Caesar, giving good measure (working 8 hours for 8 hours pay?), paying our debts (financial and moral)

Zen? —

a real buzz word today, but do you know it’s part of Buddhism?  Would God call this idolatry?

Yoga? —

I’ll lose some of you here, but check out the origin and determine what you are opening your “mind” to (remember, “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” see Philippians 2:5-11) Pantheism maybe?

 Drugs? —

What substances are we putting into our bodies– For medicine,       relief, ecstasy, laziness (we don’twant to face life God’s way, to live by faith rather than sight?), indulgence, addiction??

 Love yourself first? —

Let me simply say, ‘find that in The Word’.  If we’ll “love The Lord your God with ALL…” (See Matthew 22:37+), love God first, confident that HE loves me enough to give “His only begotten Son” to die for my salvation…  then I can rest in HIS love and follow HIS lead…

These seem like such small, relatively, unimportant things, but it only takes a pinhole (unstopped) to sink a ship.  And the danger is revealed by Jesus Himself, in His letter to the church at Laodicea–and whether we are there or just close is up for debate, the danger is real.  Please know that I write from a heart of love and concern, and not a ‘pocket full of rocks’!

“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write;

These things saith the Amen,

the faithful and true witness,

the beginning of the creation of God;

15 I know thy works,

that thou art neither cold nor hot:

I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm,

and neither cold nor hot,

I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest,

I am rich,

and increased with goods,

and have need of nothing;

and knowest not

that thou art wretched,

and miserable,

and poor,

and blind,

and naked…”  Revelation 3:14-17

Here is a church that thought they had “need of nothing” –not even Jesus!  How do I know?  If you go on down and read verse 20, you’ll see that Jesus is knocking at the door to get into HIS own church! Will we open the door to the Master or continue to lock HIM out?  I pray that God will use His Word to open our hearts, minds, and lives to HIS Word that we may have ears that hear and yield to HIM!!!

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

May we hear God’s voice today.

Amen and Amen!!!

Grateful For God’s Mercy??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #79

23 Thursday Mar 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, A heart of faith, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Faithful Follower, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, God's Mercies Are New every morning..., Jeremiah's call, Jeremiah's faithfulness, Search me O God?

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

Grateful For God’s Mercy???    A Word from THE WORD!!! #79

Jeremiah is one of my favorite Old Testament prophets, and while his message is severe, often harsh, and ‘in-your-face’, it was the calling that God placed on his heart and life, and we must never shrink from the call of God on our lives–even when it may mean that we spend some time in the mud.

“Thou therefore

gird up thy loins,

and arise,

and speak unto them

all that I command thee:

be not dismayed

at their faces,

lest I confound thee

before them.

18 For, behold,

I have made thee this day

a defenced city,

and an iron pillar,

and brasen walls

against the whole land,

against the kings of Judah,

against the princes thereof,

against the priests thereof,

and against the people of the land.

19 And they shall fight against thee;

but they shall not prevail against thee;

for I am with thee,

saith the LORD,

to deliver thee.”  Jeremiah 1:17-19

Jeremiah was called to a difficult task, and he is often called the weeping prophet, for his message was a call to repent and not well-received, but he preached on because of God’s call, and his love for his people, Israel; even when he felt like quitting, he made it clear that God was his focus, his source, and his call!

“Then I said,

I will not make mention of him,

nor speak any more in his name.

But his word was in mine heart

as a burning fire

shut up in my bones,

and I was weary with forbearing,

and I could not stay.”  Jeremiah 20:9

Understand that “not stay” doesn’t mean he quit, but that he couldn’t stop (stay meaning stop or stand still)!  God’s message was in his heart and soul, no matter the cost–and for Jeremiah it was often a high price.  Yet, his message is one that we need to heed today. And in the beginning of his call, God made it clear what the problem was in what I believe to be a most concise and precise statement in chapter 2.

“For my people

have committed two evils;

they have forsaken me

the fountain of living waters,

and hewed them out cisterns,

broken cisterns,

that can hold no water.” Jeremiah 2:13

And while this message fits our present condition in this United States of America (and most of the rest of the world–yet our heritage calls us to a higher standard!) of doing it our way, God is still calling people to repent, both the saved and the lost, and while it is a hard message to hear it is one that if ignored will produce a grievous result–much of which we are seeing today.  What are you drinking out of?  The fountain of living waters or a broken cistern?

Through some forty years of preaching, Jeremiah finally saw the fall of his precious Jerusalem, and his people taken into Babylonian captivity, because they wouldn’t heed God’s call to repent; yet he still proclaimed a message in his grief and sorrow. So, I want us to consider an additional message today–a message that I praise God for!  May we take an honest look at our lives, our homes, our standards, our vocabulary, because we do have a God-given influence on those following in our steps.  May we praise God for HIS mercy and follow in HIS steps for those behind us!

“And I said,

My strength and my hope is perished

from the LORD:

19 Remembering

mine affliction

and my misery,

the wormwood

and the gall.

20 My soul hath them still in remembrance,

and is humbled in me.

21 This I recall to my mind,

therefore have I hope.

22 It is of the LORD’S mercies

that we are not consumed,

because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning:

great is thy faithfulness.

24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul;

therefore will I hope in him.

25 The LORD is good unto them

that wait for him,

to the soul

that seeketh him.

26 It is good that a man should

both hope

and quietly wait

for the salvation

of the LORD.”  Lamentations 3:18-26

I leave us with the call of the Psalmist:

“Search me, O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way

in me,

and lead me

in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23-24

 Amen and Amen!!!

Biblical Boundaries Matter??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #78

20 Monday Mar 2023

Posted by in A Form of godliness?, Be ye doers of the Word, Be ye DOERS of the word NOT hearers only, Be ye HOLY, Biblical Boundaries Matter!, Born Again, Bow Before our God, Choices And Consequences, Choose you this day?, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Cleanliness?, Compromise, Confessing Sin, Consider Your ways, Darkness or Light?, The Word

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Biblical Boundaries Matter???    A Word from THE WORD!!! #78

As our culture seems to be abandoning everything godly and biblical, I would like to call us to consider God’s Word on the matters of godly living, living holy lives, and being a reflection of Jesus rather than popular fashion, morality, and questionable pursuits.  Will you spend some time with me today considering God’s Word in contrast to the popular message of the world.

“As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts

in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.”  1 Peter 1:15-16

And note “conversation” here means lifestyle not just our words!

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him;

for he careth for you.”  1 Peter 5:6-7

“Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:

We are called to “humble” ourselves under our Lord God, and Jesus The Son, rather than humbling others with our often sharp and crass words.  For when our hearts are humbled before God, we will find opportunities to lift others up and not tear them down.  We will also learn to see people with eyes of love and forgiveness, rather than going around with a pocket full of rocks to throw.

“Let no corrupt communication

proceed out of your mouth,

but that which is good

to the use of edifying,

that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,

whereby ye are sealed

unto the day of redemption.

31 Let all

bitterness,

and wrath,

and anger,

and clamour,

and evil speaking,

be put away from you,

with all malice:

32 And be ye

kind one to another,

tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

even as God

for Christ’s sake

hath forgiven you.”  Ephesians 4:29-32

Oh, that we can learn to spread kindness and joy rather than the meanness of the world all around us.  When will we (with a capital “ME”) learn to allow the Holy Spirit of Jesus to direct our hearts, lives, words, and actions crying out, “Father, forgive them for the know not what they do….”?  Rather than throwing those rocks that we have in our pockets, Jesus gives us great instruction that is often misunderstood, for Jesus never told us NOT to judge things at all, but to render right judgment with love, kindness, and discernment.  Scripture is replete with instructions in regard to holiness, morality, and just plain right and wrong–and there is still ‘right and wrong’ for the rules haven’t changed.  How are you ‘judging’?  Remember God made mirrors so that we could see our own shortcomings before passing judgment on others.

“Judge not,

that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge,

ye shall be judged:

and with what measure ye mete,

it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou

the mote that is in thy brother’s eye,

but considerest not

the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother,

Let me pull out the mote

out of thine eye;

and, behold,

a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite,

first cast out the beam

out of thine own eye;

and then shalt thou see clearly

to cast out the mote

out of thy brother’s eye.”  Matthew 7:1-5

“For our rejoicing is this,

the testimony of our conscience,

that in simplicity

and godly sincerity,

not with fleshly wisdom,

but by the grace of God,

we have had our conversation

in the world,

and more abundantly

to you-ward.”  2 Corinthians 1:12

“Of his own will begat he us

with the word of truth,

that we should be a kind of firstfruits

of his creatures.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren,

let every man be

swift to hear,

slow to speak,

slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man

worketh not the righteousness of God.

21 Wherefore lay apart

all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness,

and receive with meekness

the engrafted word,

which is able to save your souls.

22 But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word,

and not a doer,

he is like unto a man beholding

his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer of the work,

 this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you

seem to be religious,

and bridleth not his tongue,

but deceiveth his own heart,

this man’s religion is vain.”James 1:18-26

Just ‘hearers’, or are we ‘doers’?  What do we rejoice in?  Simplicity and “godly sincerity” or with the indulgence and excesses of the world?  Satan makes it so subtle that we are often easily influenced if we don’t know God’s Word to “withstand in the evil day”!  And surely, we are in an evil day!

We also live in a day that not only places no value on “life” but have pretty much written off the sanctity of marriage and a biblical home.

“Marriage is honourable in all,

and the bed undefiled:

but whoremongers and adulterers

God will judge.

5 Let your conversation

be without covetousness;

and be content

with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”  Hebrews 13:4-6

And in closing, I’d like to simply share Paul’s contrast between the deeds of the flesh and the “fruit of the Spirit”.  Where are you walking?  Which set of life-choices are you and I promoting and teaching to those around us–by example as much as by our words (if not more so!)!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,

and the Spirit against the flesh:

and these are contrary

the one to the other:

so that ye cannot do the things

that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit,

ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest,

which are these;

Adultery,

fornication,

uncleanness,

lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry,

witchcraft,

hatred,

variance,

emulations,

wrath,

strife,

seditions,

heresies,

21 Envyings,

murders,

drunkenness,

revellings,

and such like:

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit

the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

longsuffering,

gentleness,

goodness,

faith,

23 Meekness,

temperance:

against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections

and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”  Galatians 5:16-25

Note which of these things are accepted, promoted, and flourishing in our culture, and which ones are despised.  The choice is yours, but choose wisely, there is a test.  And remember what we who are Christ’s are called to in the passage that we began with:

“As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts

in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.”  1 Peter 1:15-16

Amen and Amen

Lifting Up Jesus Or ‘Me’??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #77

17 Friday Mar 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, All About Jesus!, Born Again, Cross, Crucified With Christ, If I be lifted up---, IN HIS TIME!, IN Jesus!, JESUS, Jesus Built A Bridge, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, Lifting up Jesus, Preach Christ and HIM crucified!

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

Lifting Up Jesus Or ‘Me’???    A Word from THE WORD!!! #77

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.”   John 3:14-16

Jesus told Nicodemus that HE would be lifted up “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness”, and later HE told His disciples the same thing; and I believe HE is calling us to understand the very same thing today.  Even as Paul declared, may we make the same commitment in our hearts, our lives, and our words today.  Who are you and I “lifting up”?  Jesus and the cross upon which HE paid for my sin and yours, or our own agenda, our own opinion, our glory, our advancement, our notoriety?  I stand with Paul and hope to always be lifting up Jesus Christ–and HIM alone!

“And I, brethren, when I came to you,

came not with excellency of speech

or of wisdom,

declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing among you,

save Jesus Christ, and him crucified…

…. 4 And my speech and my preaching

was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom,

but in demonstration of the Spirit

and of power:

5 That your faith

should not stand in the wisdom of men,

but in the power of God.”  1 Corinthians 2:1-2 & 4-5

Jesus was born to die!  To die for your sin and mine–intentionally, on purpose, that we might have eternal life.  It wasn’t by accident, it wasn’t by the power of the Jewish leaders, or the Romans, but by God’s intentional purposes for the salvation of all who will believe, and come to HIM in repentance, and faith in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin.

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21

Just as Peter preached after the ascension of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words;

Jesus of Nazareth,

a man approved of God among you

by miracles

and wonders

and signs,

which God did by him

in the midst of you,

as ye yourselves also know:

23 Him, being delivered

by the determinate counsel

and foreknowledge

of God,

ye have taken,

and by wicked hands

have crucified and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up,

having loosed the pains of death:

because it was not possible

that he should be holden of it.”  Acts 2:22-24

Even as Jesus told His followers before His death; a death they weren’t expecting, but which Jesus wanted them to understand would save all who would believe their message of the cross! (For He also told them that His death would not be the end but that HE would RISE AGAIN! –and HE DID!!!)

“And I,

if I be lifted up from the earth,

will draw all men unto me.

33 This he said,

signifying what death

he should die.”  John 12:32-33

So, my friends, will we choose to lift up Jesus or something else?  The choice is yours, but remember there is a test, and I can’t help but believe that The Master is not very long from coming for His own!  Remember HE died for YOU!  May we who belong to Jesus lift HIM up today–He’ll do the rest!

Amen and Amen!!!

Where’s Home??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #76

15 Wednesday Mar 2023

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, Children, Choices And Consequences, Choose you this day?, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, God Who Sees, God's Faithfulness, God's got you and me!, God's love, God's provision, Prodigal Son, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Wait on the Lord, Wait upon the Lord

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

Where’s Home???    A Word from THE WORD!!! #76

I have a word for those of us who are aching for those that we love who are wrestling with battles of their own making.  Many of us love those who are bound in chains of one kind or another and so often don’t know what to do.  Some have tried for years to “fix it”, yet we can’t fix what another person doesn’t want fixed yet!  I simply want to share a few comments on a story of a “pig pen”!

I heard a story many years ago of a devoted Christian farm hand who worked for a proud and arrogant farmer.  One day the farmer came and asked his worker why he was always so pleasant and talked about Jesus like he was his best friend.  The worker responded that Jesus “is my best friend”, to which the farmer said how do I get what you have?  The worker simply told the man you have to go down and get in that pig pen; well, the farmer got in a huff and said, ‘no way’, and walked off.  This happened several times, and the farmer always walked away with ‘no way’!   Time passed and one day the farmer in desperation came to the worker and said, “I’m ready to get in that pig pen, what then?”, to which the worker replied, you don’t have to get in that pig pen, you just had to be willing to do whatever it took to humble yourself before Jesus, the One who died for you!  And of course, the man found Jesus on his knees in repentance and faith in Jesus substitutionary, atoning sacrifice!

Well, I want us to look at the biblical story from the other side of the ‘pig pen’ fence (so to speak)!  A story most have heard from Jesus himself.

“And he said,

A certain man had two sons:

12 And the younger of them said to his father,

Father, give me the portion of goods

that falleth to me.

And he divided unto them his living.

13 And not many days after the younger son

gathered all together,

and took his journey into a far country,

and there wasted his substance

with riotous living.

14 And when he had spent all,

there arose a mighty famine in that land;

and he began to be in want.

15 And he went and joined himself

to a citizen of that country;

and he sent him into his fields

to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his belly

with the husks that the swine did eat:

and no man gave unto him.

17 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!

18 I will arise and go to my father,

and will say unto him,

Father, I have sinned

against heaven,

and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy

to be called thy son:

make me as one of thy hired servants.

20 And he arose, and came to his father.

But when he was yet a great way off,

his father saw him,

and had compassion,

and ran,

and fell on his neck,

and kissed him.

21 And the son said unto him,

Father, I have sinned

against heaven,

and in thy sight,

and am no more worthy

to be called thy son.

22 But the father said to his servants,

Bring forth the best robe,

and put it on him;

and put a ring on his hand,

 and shoes on his feet:

23 And bring hither the fatted calf,

and kill it;

and let us eat,

and be merry:

24 For this my son was dead,

and is alive again;

he was lost,

and is found.

And they began to be merry.”  Luke 15:11-24

I know this is a lengthy passage, so I’ll only make a few comments and trust God to help you see the truth that HE has for you today.  Here we have a son who wanted to do his ‘own thing’ on his father’s “dime”, and the father consented, and watched his son walk away into the world (Knowing that the world wanted to “steal…to kill…and to destroy” this child whom the father loved!), and sure enough the story reveals that when the son ran out of resources to share with his “friends–so called” they evaporated, and when trouble came he found himself feeding pigs!  What are you ‘feeding’ today to get by.  What are you watching someone you love ‘feed’?

We see this father didn’t run after his son, he didn’t send out runners to find him and bring him home, he didn’t pay his fine and bring him home, he didn’t move physically, but we can know that he moved heaven with his prayers.

We’re not told how long the boy was gone, or how long the father waited; but we are told that however long it took, the circumstances had to bring this young man to see his own situation and recognize that he was in the “pig pen”!  And my friends, until our loved one (our you yourself) see that you are in the pig pen, they/you will never get out.  And sadly we can’t “see” the pig pen for anyone but ourselves, and your loved one must “see” the pig pen for what it is before they can truly seek help–help which only God can provide through Jesus!  Until we see the ‘pig pen’ AS a ‘pig pen’ why would we want to get out; but like this father we can wait, pray, watch, and run to our beloved when we see them coming, and lead them to the cross, welcoming their humility and confession of sin!

We can’t pay their debt, only Jesus can.  Will you stop trying to be the solution, and just be the lover of their soul, seeking God’s wisdom, grace, and comfort for those long days of watching from the porch for their return.  God loves them more than you or I can!  Will you trust God to do the work that only HE can do–the work of conviction and the drawing of HIS Holy Spirit.

“No man can come to me,

except the Father which hath sent me

draw him:

and I will raise him up

at the last day.”  John 6:44

Are we willing to pray and wait for God to work HIS work of conviction, repentance, and restoration, or are we running ourselves ragged trying to “be GOD” and save our loved ones?  It’s your choice, but look what God did in this young man’s heart:

“I will arise and go to my father,

and will say unto him,

Father,

I have sinned against heaven,

and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy

to be called thy son:

make me as one of thy hired servants.”

If you’re the one who needs to come, will you hear the voice of the Lord Jesus today, and come to HIM.  If you’re the one loving a “prodigal”, won’t you release them to Jesus, for only His Spirit can convict and draw them to the cross, and remember HE loves them more than you or I can!  I pray that you will find the peace that only God’s grace and love can provide, for I know the heart of the “waiting one” just like you!  Are you willing to do “whatever” it takes?  Even if that means releasing, waiting, and trusting as you pray on?  Will you stand beside me with Job’s words on our lips, declaring our confidence in our Lord and our God?

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain mine own ways

before him.”  Job 13:15

“If we believe not,

yet he abideth faithful:

he cannot deny himself.”  2 Timothy 2:13

Amen and Amen!!!