Luke
Here's another parable about being lost - the parable of the lost son (or prodigal son). Many times, the focus is on the lost son, rather than the one who was never lost. That second son who never ran away, he had it made the whole time, with constant access to the father and the wealth! And yet, he was really the one squandering what he had. I can see in this parable how there is more rejoicing over the son who returned than the one who was there all along. If you aren't lost from God, are you rejoicing with him and enjoying all that he has given you? As much as there is a lot of rejoicing when the lost people come home, there is so much more available to those who have been with God the whole time; he loves all of us with an extravagant love.
Showing posts with label rejoice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rejoice. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
One lost sheep
Luke
The parable of the lost sheep teaches that there is more rejoicing about the one lost sheep that is found than the other 99 who were saved already. The earthly part of me wonders if God loves those recently lost but now found people more than the others. That seems to be a reflection of our attitude toward lost things, which we think about more than all the possessions still safe in our homes. The next series of parables are on this same idea of being lost.
The parable of the lost sheep teaches that there is more rejoicing about the one lost sheep that is found than the other 99 who were saved already. The earthly part of me wonders if God loves those recently lost but now found people more than the others. That seems to be a reflection of our attitude toward lost things, which we think about more than all the possessions still safe in our homes. The next series of parables are on this same idea of being lost.
Friday, May 6, 2011
A Good Measure
Key verses
Philippians 4:4-7 - "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Luke
Luke 6:38 is another clear example of generosity. "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Jesus said that. Doesn't it sound great? And the idea of giving abundantly sounds wonderful. God just needs to help loosen the grip we have on our time and money, doesn't he?
Just a side note on Luke 6:39, where Jesus talks about how a blind man can't lead another blind man. Every time I hear that phrase, I think of John Kenneth Galbraith's line in his book The Affluent Society: "The bland leading the bland" (p. 4). I'm not too certain if we should be drawing links between the two meanings, but it is an interesting use of the phrase.
Philippians 4:4-7 - "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Luke
Luke 6:38 is another clear example of generosity. "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Jesus said that. Doesn't it sound great? And the idea of giving abundantly sounds wonderful. God just needs to help loosen the grip we have on our time and money, doesn't he?
Just a side note on Luke 6:39, where Jesus talks about how a blind man can't lead another blind man. Every time I hear that phrase, I think of John Kenneth Galbraith's line in his book The Affluent Society: "The bland leading the bland" (p. 4). I'm not too certain if we should be drawing links between the two meanings, but it is an interesting use of the phrase.
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