Do you feel like the older brother?

 

The famous parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15),  reminds of God's great forgiveness to those who stray from his love. The end of the story becomes an indictment of our failure to forgive and embrace those we consider irresponsible or "lost." The prodigal's older brother refuses to join the celebration and welcome his brother home. The story shows how we hurt ourselves when we refuse to forgive and welcome others.

What are you worth?

 

Jesus told of a woman who searched diligently for a lost coin (Lk 15:8-10). Once she found the coin, she rejoiced greatly and even called her friends to join her in her celebration. This story reveals how God feels when we return to His care. At times we all feel worthless, but this story reminds us that the creator of everything values us greatly and rejoices when we seek Him. How can you seek Him today?

Have you plead your case?

 

Jesus once told a story about a corrupt judge, who refused to provide justice for a widow who had suffered wrong-doing. Although the judge was not motivated by good intentions, he still did what was right, just so that he wouldn't have to hear the widow complain. Jesus then asked, if even a corrupt judge will answer the pleas of the oppressed, how much more will God? (Lk 18) What are pleading with God over?

Who's your publican?

Jesus told of a highly respected, conservative and orthodox religious leader who prayed in a way that demonstrated his utter disdain for those in worship with him. One of the other worshipers, a social pariah, simply admitted his sin and begged for mercy. Jesus stunned his audience by saying that the social pariah was forgiven by God, but the leader left still in his sin. Can you think of anyone you feel superior to when you are in worship with others? How does this align with Jesus's story? Luke 18:9-14

Do you love God or His gifts?

God loves to give to good things to His children (Luke 11), but we often find ourselves desiring those gifts more than the God who gave them. David sought God more than God's provisions (Ps 27).  Do you find yourself angry when you are not receiving the gifts you have come to expect? Could you be loving the gifts more than the giver?

Fear in the calm

In troubled times, it's easy to forget the absolute power of God. One reminder can be found in Mark 4.  After Jesus calmed the storm, the people became frightened of him, because he was even more powerful than the storm they just survived. Have you come afraid of reaching out to God, because of His power? Can you think of a time you were in awe of God's power?

Can you see the beauty hidden behind creation's fall?

Living in a world that has been stained by sin can cause the Christian to forget the wonders of God's creation. Psalm 104 reminds us of the care God has taken in creating the world and its creatures, reminding us that we serve a wonderful creator who has brought beauty from dust. What beauty can you find when you examine God's handiwork?