“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” ( Luke 15:10).
The old Biblical story of the Prodigal son who left his father to have his own life easily reveals the power of reconciliation. “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 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. (Luke 15:11-13).
Of course here we know the father had not complied to the lad’s request that easily but he just gave in to a tempetous kid. Away from his father the young man having squandered all quickly realised his error. Finally he got back to his senses: “I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants” (v 18-19). But once the father saw him from afar, he “ was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” ( vv 20). The two enstraged father and son had been hurting and were now reconciled.
So often when two once close people are enstraged they are borth hurting. Something inside is aching. This is why whenever reconciliation occurs there is ruptorous joy. The father said, “Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate” (vv 23-24).
If you are enstranged from someone you were once close to, maybe its time for both of you to reconcile. For just as it was here both of you are hurting. Most important whenever we walk away from God, we are enstranged from a loving Father. But the day we return the angels weep with rejoicing!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, where I am enstraged from your loving arms today I return to you, for you are a God of reconciliation, no matter how far one is removed from you, and this I pray in Jesus’s name!
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17/05/2024 - 18/05/2024 All day“And I in righteousness I shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15)
One of the defining aspects we see in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He began the day with prayer. “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). As he was always surrounded by crowds and after such a busy day before of preaching and engaging the Pharisees in debates this must have been a therapeutic moment for Christ when he would have some good time to himself.
But there was also more. For Jesus being away in a secluded place would also mean a chance to pour out His heart to God, meditate in quietness, plan for the day ahead and listen to the Father. Jesus must have looked up to this moment every day knowing its benefits. Conversations with His Father must have been real and intimate, bringing a certain soothing and uplifting of His spirit. You do not wake up and stick to something on a daily basis that is a drag – this must have been his best time of the day!
Martin Luther the leader of the protestant reformation is reputed to once have said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Here is the point. In the olden days before the arrival of locomotive transport those who were setting out for a long journey on foot had to start early with the first cock crow before the punishing sun came out. One of the things they had to start with also was a good meal, which was fuel needed to give them energy through the long walk to their destiny.
There are no rules about waking up to pray as first thing- or even saying prayer at a defined hour of the day. God is everywhere and ever with us. He is accessible at any time of the day. But there is something special about prioritizing our lives that the first thing we do is to talk to God. Just like the early traveller we need fuel, for the long day ahead!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy and privilege to make time at the start of any day, talk and hear from you, for the power I need through the day, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
