635. Summarizing the Scripture (Part 6): Abraham Did Not Waver at God’s Promise
634. Summarizing the Scripture (Part 5): Abraham and the Child of Promise
630. Summarizing the Scripture (Part 2)
629. Summarizing the Scripture (Part 1)
629. Summarizing the Scripture (Part 1)
Jealous of the Pigs
One of the most famous stories Jesus told was the one about the Father who had two sons. One rebelled and took his inheritance to a distant country and wasted it trying to have a good time. The other stayed home, but refused to celebrate when his brother finally came home. Many sermons have been taken from this story, and we can all find ourselves in it if we try.
Let's look at the first boy. It is interesting that this presumably Jewish boy ended up feeding pigs. Those were unclean animals to the Jews and this boy had sunken so low as to serve pigs. In fact, he was jealous of the pigs because they had food according to their liking and he was hungry.
Have you ever been there? When everything you've tried has left you hungry for something deeper, bigger, better? After eating at the table provided by your culture, you feel malnourished? You feel like you are competing with the pigs for their food? It is the inevitable destination for all of us who take life into our own hands to find ourselves or our destiny. The pig pen is on the schedule.
If you can identify the pig pen and are willing to call it what it is, you are blessed. It is evidence that you have already been shown mercy. This awareness is a gift of God.
It seems that some spend a long time trying to make the best of a pig pen and its inhabitants, calling it other things than a pig pen. If the pig pen is where you are, take courage.
Sometimes late at night the pig pen memory will return. Refuse the shame that offers to cover you. You aren't there anymore.
Stop! Pause and thank God that you see. Name the pig pen as just that. It isn't your home. You don't have to stay there.
Go home! There is a Father waiting. He never wanted you to leave, but he does want you back.
Submit to the Father. You'll want to tell him how foolish you've been. You will try to explain how low you have fallen. You'll try to bargain with him to get a job as the lowest servant in the house. Don't be surprised if he interrupts your confession with the announcement of a big party.
Go to the party. You don't deserve it and you know it. Wear the robe he gave you. Flash the ring on your finger. Stand confidently in those shoes that sons wear. You'll feel like an imposter at first, but this is the Father's house and his rules apply. There is nothing the Father had rather do than celebrate you and your return.
Your memories will remain, but you will make new ones over time. You are learning to live as a forgiven and restored son. That is what you were looking for when you left to find yourself.
Enjoy the Father. Work with him. His ways are fascinating.
Sometimes late at night the pig pen memory will return. Refuse the shame that offers to cover you. You aren't there anymore. The pigs haven't missed you and your Father is smiling.
Who is the Unworthy Servant? (Luke 17:10)
How do you see yourself? As a valued son or a worthless servant? As a beloved child of God or a mere minion? Jesus came to reveal our heavenly Father, so a good sign that you understand all that Jesus did for you, is you see yourself as God’s dearly loved child. But what are […]
Why is the Narrow Gate Hard to Enter?
What is the narrow gate? You probably know the answer to this question – the narrow gate is Jesus – but what does it mean to find the narrow gate, and why did Jesus say many would try to enter and fail? Make every effort to enter through the narrow gate, because many, I tell […]
The Parable of the Two Sons
From time to time people ask me to write about the parables of Jesus. This is something I enjoy doing because I love the parables. The parables of Jesus are launch pads to revelation and if we have ears to hear they reveal the wisdom of God. Especially this one: What do you think? There […]
Introducing God — The Story
DUDLEY HALL -- All good stories begin by introducing the main characters. Much of the plot is involved in getting to know the characters as the narrative moves along. The big story of the Bible follows this pattern. "In the beginning, God ..." alerts us to the central character. He is the creator of all things. He obviously has some design in mind as he goes about putting it all together.
The crown of his creation is man. Adam is introduced as the next main character of the story. But he is alone, and so the creator makes him a companion who is like him but with distinctions. They are given the shared assignment to cooperate with God in managing the creation.
Together, they are God's partners in his overall plan to make the earth flourish. Soon, a third character is introduced. He is the antagonist. He persuasively offers the pair an alternative means to fulfill their desires, and they yield. This introduces the conflict that will be an issue throughout the story.
Because of their rebellion Adam and Eve chose to hide. This reaction made it clear they really didn't know God that well yet. Why would those cared for and created by God want to hide from him? The couple experienced shame because of their choice. They saw themselves as bad, and they did know that God was good. They perceived that he would want to distance himself from them once they had rebelled against him. But God came looking for them. They feared exposure, because they thought it would condemn them. God came to expose them, so he could cover them. This theme is central to the continuing narrative as told by God through his storytellers.
God is not hiding from sinful people. He loves his creation and longs to share all that he has with them like a father does with his children. Not only did God come to Adam and Eve when they were behind the bush, but later he came to Noah when the world was corrupted and needed to start over. Then God sought out Abram who was confused about divine-human relationships and revealed himself as a covenant-keeping God, changing Abram's name to Abraham.
Though 400 years went by as Abraham's descendents lived in Egypt, God came to them to deliver them from slavery and make them a nation of prominence. By his own initiation, God revealed the design of the tabernacle where he would meet with his people. More of his character is revealed as he identifies with them by coming to live in a tent just like they have. Other religions had gods who lived in the heavens, the mountains, the plains or the seas, but Israel's God lived with them.
He showed them how sinful people could relate to sinless God. It was by a substitutionary animal sacrifice. Blood was shed to show that sin could not be dealt with without death. Sin could not be overlooked, ignored, tolerated, denied or redefined. The substitute must die in order for God's children to enjoy life with him again. In beautiful yet bloody foreshadowing, animals died to show this picture and point to a time when a perfect substitute would die and not only pay the penalty of sin, but condemn it.
That day came when Jesus was born. In Jesus, God was again coming to sinful man to cover him. Jesus lived as Adam and Eve were designed to live. He died as the representative of their descendents. His blood was sufficient to satisfy all justice and redeem all who are held in sin's slavery. Before his final hours, Jesus told his disciples that he was going to prepare for them a place where they could enjoy the Father just like he did. He knew they would miss him, but told them that he would come again and he would send the person of the Holy Spirit who would explain what they needed to know about how to live as God's redeemed and reconciled children.
It happened just like he said. Today we have the privilege of living in fellowship with God without fear of shame -- because God is not hiding from sinners. He is coming to them.
It is time for all of us who are hiding from God to step out of our shame by stepping into his arms. He has been looking for you. Step forward. There is no condemnation in him for those who trust his Son.
The Parable of the Dead Rich Man
Jesus told stories to nudge people toward receptive insight. So why did he tell the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)? According to some, it was so that we might learn about the fiery torments of the dead. However, as we saw in the last post, this parable should not be read […]
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)
In Luke 15 and 16, Jesus tells five parables in a row. The first three are about lost things; a sheep, a coin, and a son. The last two are about lost lives; a shrewd manager loses his livelihood and a rich man loses his life. 1. Story of the lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7) 2. […]