NorthStar Community Daily Devotional

Day 13

Scripture focus: "All this time his older son was out in the field. When the day's work was done he came in. As he approached the house, he heard the music and dancing. Calling over one of the houseboys, he asked what was going on. He told him, 'Your brother came home. Your father has ordered a feast—barbecued beef!—because he has him home safe and sound.'" Luke 15:25-27 (The Message)

Lesson 6

The slaying of a fatted calf was such a cultural statement of extravagance that everyone raised such a ruckus and even the houseboy was aware of the party menu. I served barbecued beef for dinner last night. My guys loved it - but the choice of entrée didn't cause a riot.

In Middle Eastern culture, most meals were vegetarian. Barbecued beef would have been a rare treat.

So we have another life lesson.

In the family of God, no expense is spared. God desires to serve up a fattened calf, metaphorically speaking, anytime we approach him with a want, a need, a longing.

My children love to tease me about my shortcomings when it comes to packing school lunches. Sheesh! One time, or maybe two...in the history of lunch making I was distracted and accidentally gave one child three sandwiches, another three bags of chips and the third one three cookies. God doesn't have such problems.

He is able, because he is God, to provide for us exactly what we need. Although there are conditions to this giving and receiving, they are not the conditions we might expect. In our humanity, we think God's conditions revolve around our good behaving or ability to express appreciation. Interestingly enough, that's not what God is asking. He's asking that we listen. His conditions aren't designed to up our peak performance, but instead, sharpen our ability to hear and ultimately respond to his shepherd's voice.

Why? Because if we don't learn how to hear, we'll end up following behind the backside of another sheep, or a false prophet, or a fool. Until we can distinguish God's voice from the hue and cry of this world, we won't have the ability to recognize the cascade of gifts he wants to give.

Receiving is our job. Giving is God's job.

We sure have gotten this part of the story all goofed up.

How have you turned the tale around? What evidence do you have that would indicate that you've confused God's role and yours?

Recommended reading: Luke 16-18

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