The Path of the Prodigal pt 5
"'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men."'" Luke 15:18+19
"'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men."'" Luke 15:18+19
In this verse we see that the prodigal son decides that his time in squalor is over. He declares that he will get up out of the muck and return to his father. Now, this in itself is a bold move on his part. I can only imagine the questions crowding his mind. What will his father do and say when the son returns? Will the father laugh and say, "Aha! Now that you need me, you come back!" Will he say "I told you so!" Will he turn his son away? After this humiliating experience, one can imagine that the young man has no pride left.
So the son begins rehearsing what he will say. First, a confession. "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight." The son rightly realizes that all sin is first against the Almighty. When we sin, whoever we hurt, we sin against God. All sin is rebellion to God.
Another thing to note about this confession is that the man doesn't make any excuses. He understands that there are none. He doesn't justify, rationalize, or explain. He simply acknowledges guilt! Oh, that we would learn this lesson in today's churches! How much happier we would be, and how better we would get along with others!
After the confession, he ackowledges his shame. "I am no longer worthy to be called your son..." Oh, how many times I have felt this shame with my God. How often do I cry out, "Oh, God, I am so unworthy to be called your child!"
He would be right in saying this, as would I. Sin does that. It makes us unworthy to be sons and daughters and alienates that dynamic. And under the law, a rebellious child should be put to death! By all rights, this young man should be facing death in the old law! I can well imagine his guilt, his shame, his fear. He knows He's unworthy, and he doesn't wish to ask for that kind of mercy. He doesn't ask for sonship, but rather, to be a slave.
What an example of humility before God! We have to know the humility that cries out "Woe to me! I am ruined before this holy God!" It is a good and holy thing to fear God. As we shall soon see, however, God has love and mercy on those who rely on Him far beyond what we could ask!
So the son begins rehearsing what he will say. First, a confession. "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight." The son rightly realizes that all sin is first against the Almighty. When we sin, whoever we hurt, we sin against God. All sin is rebellion to God.
Another thing to note about this confession is that the man doesn't make any excuses. He understands that there are none. He doesn't justify, rationalize, or explain. He simply acknowledges guilt! Oh, that we would learn this lesson in today's churches! How much happier we would be, and how better we would get along with others!
After the confession, he ackowledges his shame. "I am no longer worthy to be called your son..." Oh, how many times I have felt this shame with my God. How often do I cry out, "Oh, God, I am so unworthy to be called your child!"
He would be right in saying this, as would I. Sin does that. It makes us unworthy to be sons and daughters and alienates that dynamic. And under the law, a rebellious child should be put to death! By all rights, this young man should be facing death in the old law! I can well imagine his guilt, his shame, his fear. He knows He's unworthy, and he doesn't wish to ask for that kind of mercy. He doesn't ask for sonship, but rather, to be a slave.
What an example of humility before God! We have to know the humility that cries out "Woe to me! I am ruined before this holy God!" It is a good and holy thing to fear God. As we shall soon see, however, God has love and mercy on those who rely on Him far beyond what we could ask!
posted by Charlie | 11:14 AM
1 Comments:
Charlie, I tried to go to the bird flu army site from the computer at school, and it said, "This site has been deemed inappropriate by Seacoast Career School." haha! I don't know... maybe it's the syptoms list?? :) They don't want us misdiagnosing patients who sing in the shower? talk to you later
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