Day 12 - Life in the family of God
Scripture focus: "But the father wasn't listening. He was calling to the servants, 'Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We're going to feast! We're going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!' And they began to have a wonderful time." Luke 15:22-24 (The Message)
Evidently, there are some instances when it is okay to not listen to your kids!
Lesson 5
Notice the father's response. He is not willing to accept restitution from his boy. He's not willing to take a pay off and balance the books. God doesn't dispense gifts to his children like we give out report card treats to ours. He isn't interested in bribing us for good behavior or withholding love when we disappoint.
God loves to give. Our job is to receive.
This offends us, does it not? It takes away our power to perform. It removes all control from our hands to manage our relationship with God. God is not interested in being managed by us. He's not interested in what we can do for him. He isn't asking us to grow strong, but is paradoxically providing opportunity for us to acknowledge our weakness.
God isn't giving us an opportunity to correct weaknesses so much as he is asking us to acknowledge needs, wants, and longings. He wants us to admit to him our vulnerabilities.
In tomorrow's study, we're going to take a look at the older son - who also struggles with spiritual anorexia.
But for today, think about how this young man's predicament might mirror your own. Have you preferred to think of God as someone you can pay off?
Do you struggle with the false belief that God thinks you owe him?
Do you freely accept all the good gifts God brings into your life - cascading down in lights from above?
Recommended reading: Luke 13-15
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