Friday, April 20, 2018

Devotional 4-20-18

Two excerpts from the parable of the Prodigal Son, Luke 15: 11-32:

And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. --Luke 15: 20

But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him. --Luke:15: 28

I find it fascinating how we can always find something new in a Bible passage we've read/heard many times. Rev. Barry Steiner Ball recently wrote a series of devotions applying the story of the Prodigal Son to our current opioid crisis. In one, he conjectured about the mother, who is not mentioned in the story which begins, "There was a man who had two sons..." How had I, a mother of four sons, never thought about that mother, whose son turned his back on his family and walked out the door?

Something else hit me as I read the story again. The father went out to/sought out both sons. When the younger son returned home, beaten down and repentant, his father ran to welcome him back into the fold. When the older son was sulking, the father left the party to find him, make sure he understood his thinking, and ensure him that he was still a valued member of the family.

The father made the effort to connect with both sons. God does the same. God makes the effort to connect with us.

In Methodism, we learn about Prevenient Grace. John Wesley understood grace as God's active presence in our lives. The presence is not dependent on human actions or human response. It is a gift--a gift that is always available, but that can be refused.

God's grace stirs up within us a desire to know God and empowers us to respond to God's invitation to be in relationship with God.

God takes the initiative in relating to humanity. We do not have to beg and plead for God's love and grace. God actively seeks us. (From the Our Wesleyan Heritage section on The  People of the United Methodist Church web page).

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for loving us before we even know you, and for pursuing us to bring us into your Kingdom. Help us, knock us on the head if necessary, to respond to your call. Amen.

Anita Gardner Farrell

1 comment:

Becky Warren said...

Isn't it funny that each time we read a passage of scripture, it reveals a new piece of information and a new level of understanding. Your writing just flows and the message is clear. Thanks for sharing:)