PC3 Devotions

Luke 16:1-13

 1Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’

 3“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 4I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

 5“So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

 6” ‘Eight hundred gallonsof olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.’

 7“Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ ” ‘A thousand bushelsof wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

 8“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

 10“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

 13“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

At first glance, to be labeled a shrewd is a title few would want. The word carries with it some negative images like the shrewd businessman who is cutthroat and will not let anything stand in the way of what he wants. The ultimate goal for him is personal success, and every decision is seen through this lens even if the end results leave hurting people in his wake. Many feel this word resides in the place where manipulation, crookedness, and deception call home.

For this very reason, we struggle to understand the truth Jesus was trying to convey by telling the parable of the shrewd manager found in Luke 16:1-13. Chances are good it caught some of His listeners off guard because it appears that Jesus is praising a crook for his actions. Why would Jesus want us to emulate a man whose boss labeled him as not only dishonest (v.8) but incompetent (v.1) as well? Some translations go as far as stating the shrewd manager was a thief (v. 2). Should we take this to mean He is condoning this biblical Robin Hood’s approach to money management?

We know and trust that a Holy God would never applaud deceptive behavior. So what exactly does He want believers to emulate in the shrewd money manager? Believe it or not, God desires us to be shrewd. Our hang-up with this parable comes from the motives that drove the manager’s actions. They were purely self-serving. Having been busted by his boss for squandering the resources he had been given, the manager goes into resource mode to save his own hide.

Slashing debts left and right suddenly placed the manager on solid footing because through his actions his boss was seen as generous in the eyes of others. The boss is now stuck between a rock and a hard place. He either commends his manager and accepts the label of being generous or fires his manager and appears greedy. This would cause sympathy from the debtors, and the manager would have a place to stay when his mean, greedy boss fired him.

Realizing he had just been the victim of a fast one, the boss could not help but chuckle and applaud the manager’s quick thinking and resourcefulness. Shedding his incompetent and lazy label, the manager was now constantly alert, looking for angles, and skillful in his adaptation. Shrewdness is a middle term that is neither good nor evil. Instead, the motives that lead a person to be shrewd are what determine the word’s morality. Synonyms for being shrewd are astute, calculating, discerning, and perceptive.

In Matthew 10:16, Jesus encourages His disciples to be “shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” This statement drives to the heart and shines light on the truth of the parable, which is to leverage everything we have for God’s kingdom. It would be easy to dismiss the strengths the manager possessed because they were done with an impure heart. Yet, the key to this parable is found in verse 8: “For the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.” In other words, if a crook only looking out for his own can understand that his life is better when he gives away money to benefit others, then why can’t the people of God manage to get it right?

What if we focused on the servant’s resourcefulness and his ability to think outside the box and imagine what it would look like if they were done with pure motives? Shrewdness becomes strategic when we use our influence for God’s kingdom. How can we begin to be shrewd? The execution comes when you use your life. It begins by paying attention to the things that are going on around you. We need to think of how we can use our resources and abilities to make Him known. Use the opportunities you have been given to enhance God’s reputation.

God, help me to be shrewd in the opportunities you present in order to further your kingdom. Allow me to act with purpose. May I act and speak with pure motives so you may be glorified. Amen.

Statistics show that more than 60% of people lose their temper at least once per week. These stats should get you angry because you know the other 40% of respondents are not being honest. Each one of us has buttons that, if pushed correctly, amp up our emotions and cause us to freak out. These triggers have the ability to set us off on a path of destructive words, thoughts, and behaviors if not dealt with properly.

When you are angry, you should take notice. Why? Because anger serves as an indicator of disarray happening within your heart. Our anger is a gauge of what is taking place on the inside. Jesus confirms this point. In Luke 6:45, Jesus says, “For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Later on in Matthew 15:18-19, Jesus takes it a step further. Take a moment and consider these words found in Matthew:

Matthew 15:18-19

18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

To understand anger, we have to look at our heart. Proverbs 4:23 encourages us to guard our heart because it serves as the “wellspring of life.” What is taking place within our heart when we get angry? There are numerous reasons our emotions get all amped up: feeling our “rights” have been violated, frustrated over our current circumstances, not having control over a situation, our pride getting hurt, feeling misunderstood, being disrespected, or someone blocking what we desire.

At the core of all these reasons is the fact that you wanted something and didn’t get it. James 4 tells us that the source of our quarrels and fights “come from the evil desires at war within you.  You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them.” Kill seems like a pretty harsh word. But in Matthew 5:22, Jesus placed the anger you hold towards someone on the same playing field as the sin of murder. The Bible says we shouldn’t take our anger lightly. It is no wonder, then, that scripture also urges to not let the sun go down on your anger (Ephesians 4:26) and to put all anger away (Colossians 3:8, Ephesians 4:31).

Selfishness, ungratefulness, and impatience define our anger. We get angry when we don’t get what we want and sometimes think we deserve. This places us on shaky ground because people who feel they are owed something walk around with a chip on their shoulders. The longer we let this anger fester the more it clouds our judgments. Proverbs 27:4 compares anger to a flood in its power to destroy and harm.

Other parts of scripture go as far as saying anger kills the foolish man (Job 5:2). How? By consuming our thoughts and dictating our actions which tend to bring with it all kinds of sin (Proverbs 29:22). Getting angry rarely solves problems and, in fact, tends to produce more conflict and trouble (Proverbs 30:33). Losing our cool only makes things worse because we tend to act like fools (Proverbs 14:7, Ecclesiastes 7:9). The anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires (James 1:20).

Yet, Paul, the writer of Ephesians, expects us to experience anger.  He understood that emotions are God-given. Paul is more concerned that his readers understand how to manage their anger, and from his perspective the key is not allowing it to get wedged inside your heart. In other words, cut it off at its source as quickly as possible.

Instead we are commanded to be slow to anger (James 1:19, Proverbs 16:32). Yes, patience in difficult situations does bring peace and perspective (Proverbs 14:29). But that is not our main purpose for being slow to anger. During those moments of patience, we are reflecting God’s heart (Exodus 34:5, Numbers 14:18). The kindness of God, seen through His being slow to anger, is what allows us to repent. We get rid of anger and bitterness through the difficult act of forgiveness, which is both an event and process. We must forgive just as Christ forgave us (Ephesians 4:32).

Understanding the love God has for us is critical in helping us process through our anger and tense situations. We want so desperately to control our own world and have everything fall into place. We desire to be the one who dictates our path and our direction. In a way, believing we are in control of anything is foolish. God is in complete control and holds everything together by His hand (Psalm 103:19, Romans 8:28). He controls the laws of the universe, the tides of the ocean. Our very existence depends on Him. We can rest in the fact that the one who is in control of everything loves us deeply. This helps us from agonizing over trying to control every situation or fuming with negative anger over our current situation.

God, may I not take my angry lightly. Help me to confront the real reasons I freak out and get angry. Enable me to see the deeper issues taking place within my heart. Shine your light on these areas. Expose them for what they are. Amen.

Yesterday we continued looking at Jesus interaction with Peter found in John 21. After dealing with Peter’s regret, Jesus charged him with the task of feeding His sheep. We learned that faith doesn’t end in belief. Instead, we must put feet to our faith. Having been loved by a great and merciful God, our natural response should be to spring into action. Yet, many of us jump without considering the cost first. Read the section of John 21 where Jesus tells Peter what “following Him” is going to cost:

John 21:17-23

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

Did you catch the bombshell Jesus just dropped in the lap of Peter? Do you understand the magnitude of what Peter is finding out? Jesus is telling Peter how he is going to die. Right after confessing his love for Christ, Peter gets the startling news that there is a cross awaiting him in the future. In essence, Jesus is saying, “Peter, if you truly love me, I want you to be aware of something. It’s going to cost you greatly. Life isn’t going to be easy. In fact, you are going to give up your life to obey me.

Peter’s reaction to this news is priceless. I don’t know about you, but it helps me to see the human side of Peter. Probably in a daze, Peter looks around and sees John following after them. You can almost feel his mind working. After hearing those hard words, Peter plays the comparison game.

So, he speaks up and asks, “Alright Jesus, I get it…I’m going to be crucified. But, what about him? You know…the one you love. Does he get the same deal? Or did I get the short end of the stick? If I am going to get crucified, it’s only fair that he joins me.”

And just like a parent, Jesus responds, “Don’t concern yourself with John. I’ll deal with him. It’s none of your business anyway. If I want him to live forever, WHAT IS THAT TO YOU? Right now, I am asking if you will follow me.”

You can’t blame the way Peter reacts. It’s not the greatest news to hear that your faith can at times be painful. Wouldn’t you halt in your tracks if you got the same news? Wait a minute Jesus; no one told me sacrifice was part of this Christian deal. Isn’t the purpose of my faith just about making my life easier, to give me better self-esteem and so all of my plans go exactly the way I want? Be honest for a moment: How do you respond when you hear Jesus say in Luke 9:23 that “if anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me?”

The reality is we often place parameters on what we are willing to give up for Christ. We desire faith on our terms. But, what is just as devastating to our faith is the comparison game. We constantly look to see how we stack up against everyone else. And while we are busy comparing, God is trying to get our attention and remind us that he has given each one of us a task to do. He’s given you a job tailored specifically for you. The question you must ask yourself is are you willing to trust Him and do the job He has given to you, regardless of the cost?

God, enable me to see that the cost of living for you pales in comparison to the grace and love you’ve poured out for me. Allow me to be strong when you ask me to step out in faith. Give me the courage to be bold in response to the personal call you have given me. Amen.

As you read John 13 today, you can’t help but notice that to the very end Jesus exemplified servanthood.  As faithful Jews gathered to celebrate the Passover feast, the disciples were in the dark about the events that would transpire in the not so distant future. However, Jesus was fully aware of the rejection and sacrifice awaiting him on the cross.

On the flip side, the disciples had a bigger concern on their mind: who would be the greatest among them (Luke 9:46). You can’t blame them for this debate as it’s in our fallen nature to jockey for position. They realized that if someone was deemed the greatest it required another to be the least and no one would dare sign up for that responsibility.

Even though they were oblivious to Jesus’ pending crucifixion, each disciple was keenly aware that someone needed to wash the others’ feet before the meal began. This undignified tasks was reserved for the household servant. However, a servant was nowhere to be found.

Since Jesus orchestrated this meal, this oversight might not of been an oversight at all, but something done on purpose. He was testing His disciples to see if they had been listening to His message of service. Unfortunately, no one moved.

With grimy and dirt covered feet, they held steadfast to their stubbornness waiting to see if anyone would budge and take on the role of lowly servant. Before the elephant in the room could get any bigger, Jesus took a towel and a water basin and showed them first hand what greatness truly encompasses. In this act, he called them to a life of service:

John 13:12-17

¹² When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

If His message and lifestyle of authentic servanthood left His disciples and the crowds of His time stunned, it is no wonder these words seem completely out of place in our “me first” culture. This line of thinking turns our self-centered world on its head, which is exactly the point: God is challenging each one of us to live differently. A quick scan of the Sermon of the Mount (Matthew 5-7) proves this point.

In these three short chapters, Jesus shares some foundational truths about the way He desires His followers to live. He begins His speech with The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12), which author Charles Swindoll refers to “as the most descriptive word-portrait of servanthood ever recorded.” Jesus describes the different qualities and character traits that make up a servant. As He continues, Jesus repeatedly uses the phrase “you have heard it say…but I say to you….” to contrast how a disciple should live differently compared to the rest of the world. Humility, authenticity and service should be markers that define our lives.

Because God’s major objective for our life is to be conformed into the image of His Son, our lives should be a reflection of what Christ was all about – serving others. The reason for living a life of service is not to help God; He would manage perfectly fine without us. We serve to reflect His love.

God, today may I look for ways to serve rather than to be served. Help me to put other’s needs above my own. I want to have the boldness to reflect your love today through acts of service. Amen. 

As we embark on our journey to study the Gospel of John, it is our hope that through this experience you will know and believe that Jesus is God. This is the same prayer that John echoed when he recounted the life of Jesus Christ. His desire was for everyone to experience what he had, which was an encounter with Jesus that forever changed his life.

Everything we read in the Gospel of John is written so we might believe that Jesus is God. This book is not so much an account of Jesus’ life as it is an argument or case trying to show that Jesus is the only source for eternal life. From the opening chapter, John lays down the foundation for his book. He begins his gospel in a way that would be familiar to his readers who were well versed in the Torah. The words he chooses are very deliberate:

John 1:1-5 

1 IN THE BEGINNING was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God IN THE BEGINNING. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Attempting to unpack this passage in a single devotional is a near to impossible task. The depth of truth found within it is simply mind-boggling. Books upon books could be written about just these five verses and those words wouldn’t even begin to capture the wealth of knowledge they contain.

Rather than tackling everything, maybe the better approach is to focus on three key words: word, life and light. Scripture talks about how the words we utter reveal what is taking place inside of our heart (Luke 6:43-45). With this in mind, it seems fitting that the author refers to Jesus as the Word (v.1). Just like an artist who expresses himself through his painting, Jesus is God’s Word that reveals His heart and mind to humanity. Yet, this is not to say Jesus is a created being.

John makes it clear that Jesus is eternal and existed in the beginning (John 8:58). ‘In the beginning.’ Those same three words opened the creation story found in Genesis.   He is God and He was with God in creation. God created all things through Jesus (v.3).

Not only should this cause us to pause, but it also confirms how Jesus was qualified to speak on God’s behalf. By sending His son to earth, God showed how far He would go to redeem and save humanity. Jesus not only has life and gives life, but He is life (v.4).  Later on in John, Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

In order for us to live, what are the essentials we need to thrive? One needs air, water, food and light. Jesus fulfills each of these qualities. He gives us the Holy Spirit or the breath of life (John 20:22). When we seek Him, Jesus provides us with living water (John 4:10) and serves as the bread of life (John 6:35).

However, light is the most important quality of all. Think about it. Without light, darkness would reign and everything around us would die. Jesus refers to himself as the light of the world and promises that those who follow Him will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12).

The battle between light and darkness is a theme John repeats often in his writings. One would assume that if you encountered the light of the world that you would take notice. However, this isn’t always the case. Other versions translate verse 5 as “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”

Throughout the gospel of John, you read story after story of people not understanding the words of Christ. The light was unable to penetrate through the darkness in their minds and heart. Let us pray we don’t make the same mistake. Ask God to open your eyes so you cannot only see His light, but walk in it as well. Pray that God would introduce Himself to you as you read through the Gospel of John over the upcoming weeks.

The arrival of Jesus was God’s entrance into our world. The arrival brought the light that would push aside the darkness. His arrival brings life.  Make room for Him.  Step into the light. Learning to believe takes time. This is why we encourage you to engage in a process that will allow your heart to be formed.

Lord, today, I am reminded that all things find their origins and their source in You. I confess my faith in you as the One I cherish as my Savior and worship as my Lord.  I will gladly come into the Light and risk the exposure of my darkness.  Only because that Light is you. Thank you for coming into my life… and becoming my life.  Amen.

Over the course of the past few days we’ve begun to explore in depth God’s character. At best, we’ve just hit the tip of the iceberg. We’ve barely begun to describe the attributes of God. There aren’t enough pages to adequately describe and contain His greatness. Volumes could be written on God’s mercy, grace and goodness and, even in that, we will just see a shade of each quality.

Our goal is to not only give you a glimpse into God’s heart, but also to dispel how intimidating big theological words can be. For instance, let’s reflect on God’s omniscient. Chances are good some of you just halted in your tracks. You’ve never heard this word, let alone know how trusting in this characteristic of God can alter your perception of your worth in God’s eyes. Omniscient can be defined as having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things. One of yesterday’s scriptures spoke of God’s omniscience:

Luke 12:7

7 Indeed, the VERY HAIRS OF YOUR HEAD ARE ALL NUMBERED. Don’t be afraid; you are WORTH more than many sparrows.

Here are a few of the other passages on this aspect of God’s character:

Psalm 139:1-6

1 You have searched me, Lord, 
and you KNOW me. 
2 You KNOW when I sit and when I rise; you PERCEIVE my thoughts from afar. 
3 You DISCEN my going out and my lying down; you are FAMILIAR with all my ways. 
4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, KNOW it completely. 
5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 
6 Such KNOWLEDGE is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Hebrews 4:13

13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. EVERYTHING IS UNCOVERED AND LAID BAREE before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Job 37:16

16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has PERFECT KNOWLEDGE?

Matthew 6:3-4

3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, WHO SEES WHAT IS DONE IN SECRET, will reward you.

God knows everything. He possess all knowledge. God doesn’t ever get surprised and nothing new ever occurs to God. He knows both the past and the future for every single human being from creation until the end of the age.

Who we are going to be twenty years from now is known to God just as much as who were a decade ago. He hears and responds to every prayer ever spoken.

At first, it can be terrify to think that not a single thought, action or word of yours has happened without the full attention of God. There are things we’ve done or said we wish no one knew about, especially the creator of the universe.

But, this attention should cause a different emotion to stir within us. Yes, he has witnessed your struggles with sin, but he knows and cares about your feelings, scars, wounds and fears.

David, the person who pen the majority of the Psalms, was left speechless when he considered the amount of knowledge God possessed on his life. All he could utter was “You have searched me and know me.”

God, the one who spoke the world into existence and knows the details of how everything works, also pays attention to you. The only conclusion you can draw this is that you must really matter to God. You are valuable in His eyes.

Lord, your intimate knowledge of me is beyond my comprehension. You know about me and care for me in ways I will never fully understand. Everything is known to you, including my heart and for that I am forever grateful. Amen.

Proverbs 14:27
 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.

Proverbs 19:23

23 The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

The flu bug finally made its’ temporary residence at our home. With my wife out of commission and our two little ones under the weather as well, I took a day off from work to take care of the family. The girls had fallen asleep on the couch and I got sucked into watching day time talk shows. As I flipped through the channels, I came across an episode of Maury Povich that, according to the introduction, promised people would face their biggest fears and be cured by the end of the hour long show.

The way they hyped it up I thought I was going to see people freaking out over huge snakes, hairy spiders or crowded elevators. To my surprise, it turned out the guests possessed a fear of fluffy bunnies, bald people and, believe it or not, cotton balls.  It wasn’t a healthy dislike for these things but rather a dose of fear that elicited squirming in chairs, panic attacks, sobbing and eventually hysterically running off stage when the object came into their line of sight.

I couldn’t help but chuckle as a grown man was reduced to tears over the presence of a floppy eared bunny. It was just plain silly and odd. Even more perplexing than what I caught on the morning talk shows is how many Christians deep down inside have an undiagnosed and unhealthy fear: theophobia or the “fear of God.” For many of us the phrase “the fear of the Lord” is a pretty confusing, if not intimidating idea. For the next three weeks, we’ll be exploring how our “theophobia” has steered us in the wrong direction and given us a false view of who God is. We tend to fear God because we see Him as fickle, changing His mind about us based on our actions. However, our God is righteous and unchanging, worthy of our attention and respect.

The term “fear of God” has been used to keep people cowering before God as though He is simply waiting for them to cross the line so He can demonstrate His power and wrath.  God is not fickle in the things He asks us to do.  He is not cruel in the way He treats His children.  He always has a grand purpose for every relationship, for every encounter, for every difficulty, for every moment.

If the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom (Psalm 111:9, 10) then it is critical we begin to reclaim this term “fear”. The scriptures use the term “fear of the Lord” over and over again.  Most versions keep this phrase in tact and it can be viewed as reverent trust in the creator (Isaiah 33:6 and 1 Samuel 12:24).  It is connected to wonder, marvel and awe in His presence and power (Jeremiah 5:21-23, Exodus 14).  Yet, the intended meaning often gets lost in translation.

Our definition of this fear feeds all the worst parts about who we think God is and what we think about Him. We have this fear mentality that defines everything in terms of how it may harm me.  But a reverent fear understands there is something far more difficult to repair than something physical.  It is not about our safety or the guarantee that we will not be hurt.  The fear of God is about who we see, who we trust and who defines the way in which we live. Jesus talks about this point in Luke 12:

Luke 12:4-7 

 4″ I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

In order to begin to see the fear of the Lord as a gift, one must view it through the contexts of both God’s authority and goodness. One without the other gives you a skewed view of Him. Only seeing his authority would cause you to be waiting for lightening bolts to strike anytime you screwed up or got caught in sin. In essence, this fear is driven by our belief that God is fickle and according to scripture this is not true. The God we serve is one who is consistent in His love for us (Hebrews 13:8). He is a God of justice (having to deal with our sin) and mercy (sending His son Jesus to die in our place). One filled with righteousness and loving-kindness. We must see God and feel His love. This type of fear draws you near and inspires wonder. Fear is a healthy respect for His authority and His willingness to use it.  This revering and awe produce in us obedience.

The fear of the Lord produces in us a posture that enables wisdom and knowledge to take root in our lives. We must position ourselves to see God for God. This starts by understanding we are not here on our own terms and that everyday is a gift from God.

Luke 8:5-15

5 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. 6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand.’

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. 12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. 13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. 15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.

I wish that from my green thumbs I was able to cultivate my backyard into a spacious garden where plants live and flourish. However, somehow I seem to kill every plant I touch. My black thumb sends every seed six feet under to its’ death sentence. In order to understand why devastation reigns supreme in my backyard, I headed over to Home Depot to seek advice from the garden experts. After answering numerous questions, my fears were relieved when they informed that the seeds lack of growth was not due “solely” to my incompetence, but rather the terrible soil in which it had been sown.

The expert informed me that the condition of the soil determined whether a seed would sprout or stay dormant never to see the light of day. While some elements found in soil provide key nutrients, there are others that can be toxic to plants. Erosion, drought, rocks and other random organisms make it nearly impossible for growth to occur. In essence, the seed never stood a chance to develop deep roots.

Even though it is referred to as the Parable of the Sower, very little energy is spent focusing on the farmer himself. Instead great detail goes into describing the conditions of the various soils. This does not mean that the identity of the sower is insignificant. In fact, it is just the opposite. Without the sower (Jesus Christ) taking the time to plant the seeds (word of God), no fruit would be produced from the soil (our hearts).

Yet, we needs to ask ourselves: Why is Jesus so concerned over the environment the seed is placed in? What is He ultimately nudging us to do with what we have been told? Like the soil expert at Home Depot, Jesus understood how critical a role the condition of the soil plays in a seed’s development.

Harden Heart – The Seed That Feel On The Path (verses 5 & 12) – These are the individuals that struggle to understand how the Word applies to them which ultimate doesn’t allow the truth any chance to stick.

Shallow Heart – The Seed That Fell On The Rock (verses 6 & 13) – After the initial joy of a newfound faith has worn off, these individuals resist the implications the truth should have on their lives. When faced with a challenging situation or difficult trials, their shallow faith is finally exposed.

Overcrowded Heart – The Seed That Fell Among The Thorns (verses 7 & 14) – We hinder our maturity when the concerns of this world shade us from the concerns of God. Not enough light is available for the faith of these individuals to grow towards maturity.

Receptive Heart – Seed That Fell On Fertile Soul (verses 8 & 15) – Through their receptiveness, the Word of God had the freedom to slowly take root and produce a crop. This took place because the individual not only received the message, but also conformed their lives to it.

If the seed in the parable represents the word of God then it should unsettle us that only one environment provided an ideal setting for the seed to bear fruit. So, what can we do to make the conditions ripe for our spiritual growth? It starts by immersing ourselves in the Word of God. To reflect God’s heart, we have to know God’s heart. We must allow the truth of scripture to define our actions, words and lives, yet at the same time understand that just like a seed our maturity and growth takes time to develop. Weeds can pop up overnight, but mature fruit occurs over time.

God, help me to be receptive towards your Word. May I provide the right environment for it to penetrate my heart so that I not only meditate on it, but put it into practice as well. Amen.

Luke 15:11-32

 11Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

 13“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

 17“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ 20So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

 21“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

 22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

 25“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

 28“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

 31” ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ “

Once again, we return to Luke 15.  This story is most often called the Lost Son or the Prodigal Son because prodigal means wasteful, reckless and uncontrolled. When this tale is told most of the attention is spent on the son who after tanking his life by wasting away his inheritance comes home and is not only embraced by his father, but also finds himself as the guest of honor at a huge banquet.

Yet, there is another son who largely gets ignored in this story. The older brother possessed all the exterior features of doing all he was supposed to do. He is the one who never left home, who appears to have done everything right, but who seems to be equally lost and alone. When his irresponsible younger brother strolls into town and is greeted with a party, the older brother is not so quick to come inside and celebrate.

Who can blame the older son for his reaction?  After all, he is the “good” hard working son who stayed and did all he was told to do. There is something within us that can relate to this mindset. Is it possible that the older brother is someone who thought that he wasn’t lost? Maybe he thought he knew were he was? But, isn’t it true that you’re always more lost when you don’t even realize that your lost in the first place? The younger brother knew he was lost and made the long trek back home in search of help. What Jesus seems to be saying is the older brother didn’t even know he was lost.

Many of us fall into this category and the mindset of the older brother. Deep down inside he holds anger, bitterness and rage that suddenly rises to the surface. What causes it to come out? Somebody else’s joy. You see it in his response: “all these years I’ve slaved for you and never once…” In these words, the older son is identifying himself as a slave.  He has lost the notion of what it means to be a son. Underneath all of this is some sense that I’m going to be forgotten, neglected and passed over. If I don’t work hard enough or do enough stuff to prove that I’m a son, I won’t deserve the title of a son.

Through the telling of this parable, Jesus is nudging those individuals who do all the exterior things they are supposed to do, but keep all their hypocrisy and secret lives buried underneath. He is saying, “You are missing out on a life of joy.”  Unlike his younger brother, the eldest son ends up isolated and alone. He is now the lost son. The one who never ran away is now lost, separated from his family.

What is even more interesting is when we look further into Verse 31 “His father said to him, ‘Look dear son, you’ve always stayed by me and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day for your brother was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and now he’s found.’” The dad says everything I have is already yours. The father is asking his older soon if he wants to come and be a part of a celebration. Then the story abruptly ends as if Jesus had something else to do. Yet, He’s leaving it open for a reason. Jesus is throwing it back to the religious people who were critical of everybody else.

The question that he is asking them is “Who are you?” The story begs the question, do you belong to the world or do you belong to God? That’s it. What are the things, the ways, and the addictions within you that you know are leading you towards emptiness, towards being lost, toward a lesser degree of intimacy with God? What is it within you?

Do I belong to the world or do I belong to God?  What is it for you?  Is there part of you that’s kind of like the younger brother who lives real wildly?  Maybe there’s part of you that is like the older brother and buries secret pains deep down inside. You’ve done all the right things, but you can’t seem to celebrate when someone returns home. Are you lingering outside, bitterly unwilling to forgive?

We have to take a hard look at this story and ponder what this means in our life.  This is where our way and God’s way collides.  This is where we have to begin to make a choice. Do you wear your religion like clothing shrouding what is going on inside, or do you live out what you believe?  Who are you?

God, help me see the places where I feel lost or, even worse, entitled. Enable me to give you access to all parts of me. Allow me to see the grace you’ve extended to me so I will be able to extend grace to others. Amen.

Luke 15:11-32

 ¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

   ¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

   ¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.

   “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

   ²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

   ²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

   ²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

   ²⁸ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

   ³¹ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Your 16^th birthday could never come soon enough. You knew down to not only the month, week, and day you turned sixteen, but also the first second you could go to the Department of Motor Vehicles to get your driver’s license. Being behind the wheel meant freedom. It would just be you and the open road now. Anything was at your disposal and life was now your oyster.

Boundaries that once restricted you were no longer in your way. There is a quiet, and sometimes not so quiet, voice inside that tries to convince us that life would be so much more enjoyable on our own. We all want to be in the driver’s seat. Our destination wasn’t important, just as long as we were the one behind the wheel.

All of us, in one way or another, are prodigals. We all have moments where our initial reaction is to run and chart unmarked territory on our own. Nowhere is this more clearly seen then in our intimate relationship with Christ. We not only forget who we are in Him, but also who He is to begin with. Our selfish desires become our guide as we go out on our own. The farther one goes down the path, home becomes less and less visible till you can’t see it at all.

It sounds so simple, but the only way you can ever truly return home is by turning in the opposite direction. When it comes to the areas where you are running, how are you trying to fix things on your own apart from God? What holds you back from turning around, confessing honestly, and embracing your waiting father? What stops you from turning back and running home? Do you feel too much damage has already been done and you are a lost cause? Unsure of what response you will receive upon your return?

What you are forgetting is your identity to the father. He will always remain your dad and you will forever be His son or daughter. Nothing you can do will make him love you any more or any less. It is in your identity where your security can be had. Your Father is waiting for you to return.

God, I confess that I’m a prodigal in so many ways. There are places inside my heart where I run from you. Help me to turn towards you and trust that a loving Father awaits me with open arms. Amen.