Jesus told a parable of a man who had two sons of which his younger son took his inheritance before the appointed time and squandered it off in wild living (Luke 15:11-32). The story goes on to say that after this son had lost all his money, he ended up as a hired hand feeding pigs. He even longed to eat the pods that the pigs fed on. That was how bad his situation was.
One day he came to his senses, realising that his father's servants were even in a better position that he is in and that they were better fed. Thus, he decided to go back to his father. His decision was that he was not worthy anymore to be called a son and that his father should make him a slave.
However, while he was still a long way off, the father saw him and ran to him. Even before the son could say anything, the father threw his arms around him and kissed him. And while the son was trying to tell the father that he should no longer qualify to be known as a son but as a slave, a ring was put on his finger, sandals were placed on his feet, and one of the best robes in the home graced him. Besides that, preparations were being made for an immediate feast.
While this young man who had sinned wanted to come back to his father's house as a slave, the compassion of the father immediately saw his repentance and reinstated him back as son.
His elder brother however, also had issues of his own. He was upset with his father for throwing a party for his brother who had squandered off his inheritance. He would not go in to join the party!
Once again we see the compassion of the father, going out to his elder son. It says that the father "went out and pleaded with him". The older brother was upset because he felt that he was "slaving" all those years for the father and had not gotten anything. And the reply of the compassionate father to his son was, "you are always with me, and everything I have is yours".
The elder brother too had a slave mentality even though he was in his father's house. Once again, the father's answer tells us that he had already given the son everything to enjoy. His elder son just did not see his position as a son to enjoy everything the father has.
Do we have the mentality of a slave or a son? A son has a relationship with the father. A son enjoys the inheritance of the father. And a son definately has the authority that is bestowed by the father.
God is our Heavenly Father, but are we His son?
There is a phrase that says, "if you want to fly like eagles, don't hang around turkeys". Recently I was reading a book by Michael Catt entitled "Prepare for Rain". Michael Catt is the senior pastor of Sherwood Baprist Church and that church was empowered to produce movies which included one entitled
Facing the Giants.
This book tells of how God uses ordinary prople in the church for extraordinary tasks. It also challenges us to take whatever God has given us, to think big and impact prople for eternity. There is a section in the book where the author says that we should "never let losers tell us how to win". That immediately brought my mind to the phrase about eagles and turkeys.
So very often we are reminded of the fact that we need to surround ourselves with Godly people, people who would spur us on and cheer us to the finish line no matter how we run. But the fact is that we take so little time to develop those friendships that will count for eternity. So often we fail to hang around eagles and winners.
Are there eagles and winners that surround us? Are there Godly people that will be able to spur us on. People that we can rely on at any time to grow us and help us reach the full potential that God has planted within us?
Its time to soar!
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