I took the challenge that Pastor Wes Tillett threw out, and read this very short, powerful book for one of his messages on what we all know as the story of the Prodigal Son. Prodigal is defined as 1) recklessly extravagant and 2) having spent everything. Thinking about those two definitions, we can easily discern why the author titled this book "The Prodigal God": He gave the ultimate & spent it all in His recklessly extravagant way...for us. Of course, the father in the story does represent God as he divvies up his inheritance, quite probably not keeping any for himself..then in great love & grace, he throws the ultimate celebration for the returning son. My thoughts were always in sympathy for the eldest son who was faithful & committed to doing the right thing...but Keller explains carefully how each of the sons was only living for himself, the younger son looking for happiness and fulfillment in fun and self discovery; the elder in climbing the ladder and trusting in his good works, righteousness & hard work so he could take over the farm.
So many of us in the church have mis-understood what God calls us to: joy, peace, kindness, patience~ somehow we have instead become angry, judgmental, proud, anxious, condemning and joyless, exactly like the elder son. What an eye opener, how I am so needy of God's immense grace.
No comments:
Post a Comment