Luke 15

Luke 15 - 10/26/05 09:55 PM

quote:
Luke 15
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.[b]'

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.' "

This parable is often looked upon from the perspective how God relates to us. However, in this thread I ask the question if we can learn anything from it conserning how God wants us to relate to Him?

/Thomas

Posted By: John Boskovic

Re: Luke 15 - 10/29/05 11:11 PM

quote:
I ask the question if we can learn anything from it concerning how God wants us to relate to Him?

There is one aspect of this story that I have never heard anyone speak about; yet were it not for this aspect the story would have ended very differently.

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.

Suppose the prodigal son would have refused the robe, the ring, and the sandals; and would have wanted his father to receive him into his home with his own attire.

What did accepting the robe mean to the son?
Did it not mean, accepting the father’s righteousness instead of remaining in his own righteousness? Did it not mean that he now knew that his father’s judgment was life?

What did accepting the ring mean to the son?
Did it not mean accepting his father’s authority over himself? Did it not mean that he was no longer in his own authority?

What did accepting the sandals on his feet mean to the son?
Did it not mean that he would no longer walk in his own ways, but would from henceforth walk in his father’s ways.

Posted By: Tom

Re: Luke 15 - 10/30/05 12:10 AM

The prodigal realized a servent was better off in his father's house than he was in the pigpen. He worked up a speech to give to his father: "Don't take me back in my former position. Just let me be one of the servents, and that's good enough."

He didn't have the right picture of his father, because if he had, he would have known he could just go back without having to earn his father's favor, which is what he was intending to do.

When he tried to give his speech, the father cut him off. He wasn't interested in the son earning his favor; he was just glad he was back.

In terms of how God relates to us, this story teaches us that all that is necessary for us to return to Him is to return. God does not require any sacrifice to earn His favor -- we already have it.

In terms of how we relate to God, it teaches us that we should recognize God's favor does not need to be earned. God freely gives us His favor.

As John put it, we receive His rightouesness as our own. Or to put it another way, we should look at things the way that He does. The way that He looks at things is that He desires nothing more than that we should return to Him, fellowship with Him. Whosoever will may come.

Posted By: Charity

Re: Luke 15 - 11/14/05 03:00 AM

What are your thoughts Thomas?