Day 256: The Rebellion Of The Prodigal Son: It's In Our DNA Folks!
Read: Luke 15:11 - 32
Well, we continue our foray into Luke 15. We have been getting an
insiders look into the home of Tax Collectors. We have watched from afar
the grumbling and groaning of the Pharisees on the outside looking in
and took a glance at a women upsetting her entire house, upending impossibly heavy furniture for the sake of one silver coin. I am now realizing something else about these Parables. That is they all take place in the context of someone's home. The first Parables were not that personal to us. In all the Parables up to now in this chapter, we probably could not readily
identify with any of the characters. Now Jesus is upping the stakes. Now
it is becoming about our family! It is becoming deeply personal. It is becoming about who we are!
The first thing Jesus announces to us is in no uncertain terms is the rebellion of the son. No introductions, no names, no ages, no information about the size if the family, the make up of the family. Are they rich? Are they poor? Are they
middle class? Who knows. All we are introduced to is the richness of the
strife that is taking place inside. What a familiar picture that is. Strife inside the family structure. Strife happens in all shapes and sizes. It comes in various degrees of intensity from raised
voices to all of the impossibly heavy furniture being upended every
which way possible. We do not know when it started? Was it spontaneous?
Rebellion is as Rebellion always will be!
All of us know a
younger son. He is someone, although not always so, who is loved and
properly raised by parents, yet he insists on rejecting this love in
order to make his own way in life. He isn't necessarily being the most
mature in his decision making skills and we question whether he understands the responsibility that inevitably comes with his course of action. Nothing anybody says is 'right for his idea of living his life'. I have been there and done that. We're rebellious much to the chagrin of our parents. Rebelliousness is in our DNA. It is in all of our DNA. It has been there ever since Eden. Embedded in our nature is a desire to say to God that we will do things our own way.
So the younger son's demand to give him his share of the inheritance -
even though he had probably done precious little to earn it is not so
surprising to me. Son's or I guess even daughters (they will tell you
they have a right to rebel just a bit too) will do as they please. What
is surprising is that the father gave in so easily. He did not force
obedience upon him. Our gracious heavenly father loves us so much that
He too wants us to love Him freely. God our Father desires intimacy with His children putting the choice of that relationship into our hands. Even if we squander all He has given us in the riches of His grace. All we can do with our DNA to alter it is splice in God's DNA.
Let Us Pray: Father, You call rebellion and stubbornness detestable
attitudes. I now confess that my actions are a reflection of the
attitude of my heart. Your Word says in Proverbs 23:7, "As a man thinks
in his heart, so is he." Too many times, I have grievously sinned
against You, Heavenly Father. I sinned by going my own way and doing
what I wanted to do. These actions have opened the door for the enemy to
have an entrance into my life, to harass and attack me. I now confess
this rebellious spirit and humbly repent. I want peace and joy in my
heart. Father, I choose to have a humble and obedient spirit. I choose
to walk toward the light. I claim the cleansing power of the Blood of
Jesus over every area of my life and mind, in Jesus' name.
http://www.youtube.com/
Read: Luke 15:11 - 32
Well, we continue our foray into Luke 15. We have been getting an insiders look into the home of Tax Collectors. We have watched from afar the grumbling and groaning of the Pharisees on the outside looking in and took a glance at a women upsetting her entire house, upending impossibly heavy furniture for the sake of one silver coin. I am now realizing something else about these Parables. That is they all take place in the context of someone's home. The first Parables were not that personal to us. In all the Parables up to now in this chapter, we probably could not readily identify with any of the characters. Now Jesus is upping the stakes. Now it is becoming about our family! It is becoming deeply personal. It is becoming about who we are!
The first thing Jesus announces to us is in no uncertain terms is the rebellion of the son. No introductions, no names, no ages, no information about the size if the family, the make up of the family. Are they rich? Are they poor? Are they middle class? Who knows. All we are introduced to is the richness of the strife that is taking place inside. What a familiar picture that is. Strife inside the family structure. Strife happens in all shapes and sizes. It comes in various degrees of intensity from raised voices to all of the impossibly heavy furniture being upended every which way possible. We do not know when it started? Was it spontaneous? Rebellion is as Rebellion always will be!
All of us know a younger son. He is someone, although not always so, who is loved and properly raised by parents, yet he insists on rejecting this love in order to make his own way in life. He isn't necessarily being the most mature in his decision making skills and we question whether he understands the responsibility that inevitably comes with his course of action. Nothing anybody says is 'right for his idea of living his life'. I have been there and done that. We're rebellious much to the chagrin of our parents. Rebelliousness is in our DNA. It is in all of our DNA. It has been there ever since Eden. Embedded in our nature is a desire to say to God that we will do things our own way.
So the younger son's demand to give him his share of the inheritance - even though he had probably done precious little to earn it is not so surprising to me. Son's or I guess even daughters (they will tell you they have a right to rebel just a bit too) will do as they please. What is surprising is that the father gave in so easily. He did not force obedience upon him. Our gracious heavenly father loves us so much that He too wants us to love Him freely. God our Father desires intimacy with His children putting the choice of that relationship into our hands. Even if we squander all He has given us in the riches of His grace. All we can do with our DNA to alter it is splice in God's DNA.
Let Us Pray: Father, You call rebellion and stubbornness detestable attitudes. I now confess that my actions are a reflection of the attitude of my heart. Your Word says in Proverbs 23:7, "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." Too many times, I have grievously sinned against You, Heavenly Father. I sinned by going my own way and doing what I wanted to do. These actions have opened the door for the enemy to have an entrance into my life, to harass and attack me. I now confess this rebellious spirit and humbly repent. I want peace and joy in my heart. Father, I choose to have a humble and obedient spirit. I choose to walk toward the light. I claim the cleansing power of the Blood of Jesus over every area of my life and mind, in Jesus' name.
http://www.youtube.com/
Jesus Culture - Break Every Chain (Hip Hop Remix) (ft. Jen Choi, John Oh, and D.T.)
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Bringing glory to the Lord through hiphop. Decided to take the chorus from a Jesus Culture song that
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