I am thankful that the storms last night were not too bad. I thank you for your prayers on this matter. We are supposed to have bad storms over the next two evenings, so I would ask that you would please pray that these storms will not be too bad. Thank you.
Please continue to pray for my neighbor as he recovers. I am thankful that he is doing much better, and I think he will be home fairly soon.
This week, I learned of two alarming situations. I heard a report that there are several cases of polio in central Africa. I also heard that cholera is becoming quite a problem in Yemen. Please pray that these two areas can get the aid that they need and that these diseases can be brought under control.
Also, please pray for those affected by the terrible fire in London. Pray that those who are injured may recover quickly. And pray that those who have lost their homes will find the aid and help that they need.
Also, please pray for those affected by the terrible fire in London. Pray that those who are injured may recover quickly. And pray that those who have lost their homes will find the aid and help that they need.
Continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Pray for peace in Syria especially as that area continues to have significant warfare.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us remember to pray for those in Azerbaijan and Egypt. Pray that many people in these nations will respond to the message of Jesus' love.
Today, we will continue with our series of messages on the parables of Jesus focusing on the parable of the lost son also known as the parable of the prodigal son. This is one of the most preached texts in the New Testament. However, I believe that we can always learn something from the Word of the Lord no matter how many times we hear or read a message.
For those who aren't familiar with this parable, it goes like this. A man had two sons. One day, the younger son came to his father and asked for his inheritance even before his father died. The father gave the boy his inheritance. The younger son left home and spent his money foolishly on immoral living. Eventually, the money ran out and a famine struck the land where the younger son was living. The young man got a job feeding pigs, but he was still in a desperate situation.
Finally, the young man realized that he might be accepted back at the father's house. He decided to go back home, beg for mercy and hope to get back in as just a servant if nothing else.
One day, while the young man was still a long way off, the father saw him coming down the road. He ran to greet the son and accepted him back home. To celebrate his son's return, the father held a party for his son who had returned.
When the older son found out what was going on, he became furious and would not go in and celebrate. The father came out to the older boy and said to him that now all that the father had was his, but it was right to celebrate because the son that was lost was now found.
There are three central characters in this story, and I would like to discuss what I think we can learn from each of them.
Let's start with the father. The father in this story represents our own loving Heavenly Father. In this parable, the father respected the free will of the younger boy. He did not prevent him from leaving the father's house. In the same way, our Father has given us free will to accept or reject His love. We can abide in Him and serve Him, or we can decide to go our own way and do what we want to do regardless of the consequences.
The father in the parable was always willing to accept the son back if he decided to return home. Our Heavenly Father longs for His wayward children to return to Him. He wants people everywhere to come to their senses and realize how much He loves them and wants to forgive them and welcome them into the embrace of His love.
The father in this parable did not condemn the younger son. He forgave him and welcomed him home. As Jesus said, whoever comes will not be cast out.
Now we move on to the younger son, the prodigal son. He represents all of us who like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his or her own way. When we sin, we turn away from the Lord and are in rebellion to His will and plan. Most of us soon learn that sin has its consequences. Thankfully, just like the prodigal, we can decide to repent and go back to the Father's house. We can place our trust in the finished work of Jesus on the cross and turn to Him in repentance and faith. When we trust in His Son, the Father in Heaven welcomes us into His Heavenly kingdom.
The older son also has lessons to teach us. To me, this older son represents people in the church who don't think God can save certain types of people. They are bound up in their rigid ways of thinking. They act just as the religious leaders did in Jesus day. Instead of being pleased when people come to faith in Jesus Christ, they are resentful that "those" type of people are coming into the church. Of course this is not the attitude that any Christian should have. The Bible says that the angels in Heaven rejoice when someone turns back to God. That should be our attitude. We should join the angels in rejoicing.
You may be like the younger son and you have left the father's house and have lived a life opposed to the things of God. The Father in Heaven is waiting for you to come. He sent His Son the Lord Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sins. If you will turn to Jesus in repentance and faith, the Father in Heaven will accept you into His Home in Heaven. I hope that you will give your life over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ today.
Next week, we will continue with our series of messages on the parables of Jesus. We will study a parable that has two very different interpretations depending on what commentaries you read. On Monday I will post the verses, and I hope to have a review on Wednesday. May God bless you all. Amen.
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