Inheritance for Sons
The following is encouragement for you as if Jesus Christ Himself was speaking. These are meant to give you insight into His Heart, how He thinks, and how He feels about you. Let this encouragement begin to dwell deep within you!
Jesus continued: “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 the property between them.
Not long after that, the younger son got together all that he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in the whole country and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed his pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
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. 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 men.’ So 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.
The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
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. Bring the fatted 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 now found.’ So they began to celebrate.
Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never even gave me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
LUKE 15:11-32 (NIV)
In this particular Note I want to share with you what my Father (and I) are really like. And I have a sense of urgency about this; I so want you in particular to let these words settle deeply into your heart!
In the society in which I grew up, the father of each family was the absolute ruler. The father was the one who made all the decisions, and who commanded all the respect. He could be at times, and was, somewhat removed from the caring of children and the giving of love. The idea that a father would run out, or even go out, to see a child coming, was just too difficult to comprehend and believe. That particular image remains even today, when so many people think of God that same way: a distant, rather stern keeper of accounts. But it is a grossly incorrect image; it’s the exact opposite of the truth!
Note that the father, in my story, saw his errant son “a long way off”, that he had compassion on him, that he ran out to meet him while the son was still on his way, that he gave the son a huge hug, that he kissed him repeatedly, that rather than waiting for an apology and then handing out discipline, the father was overwhelmed with joy and just had to have a party to celebrate. In fact, the father didn’t even comment on the son’s apology; he was too filled with happiness, joy, relief, and thankfulness.
Now I want you to notice that the father once again “went out” and “pleaded” with the older son. Again, this concept was so hard for the original listeners of this story to comprehend. Note that the father didn’t get upset at the narrowness of his older son’s vision, or his blatant selfishness; he didn’t scold and berate the son. Rather, he reminded his son that everything in his father’s world was meant to be shared and enjoyed by that older son, everyday. There were to be no barriers, no hindrances, and no separation. The father indeed tried to strengthen and deepen the relationship between himself and his older son.
Today, you might also be in a far off country, alone and torn up inside. Or, you may be somewhere closer to the father’s estate, yet still not really understanding his heart. You may have spent years in such places. You may sense a separation which has left you empty.
Know this: you have a Father who wants, and is ready, to run out to you, to hug you, to kiss you, to celebrate with you, to give you an abundant life, to share everything He has with you. Today is a great day to start your journey back to Him, and vice versa.
I really like you, and I really love you!
PAUSE … Relax and concentrate on the above encouragement!
REFLECT …
1) When the son decided to leave his family, what human core need(s) might he have wanted to fill? (Check out the "What You Need To Know" tab, at the top of this page, for human core needs information.)
2) About how far was “a long way off” when his father saw him?
3) Why didn’t the father lecture the younger son, and discipline him as he deserved? How would your heavenly Father react as He sees you a long way off, but headed in the right direction?
4) How, and why, did the father restrain himself from anger at the older brother’s narrow vision?
5) During all of this story, what was the Father's attitude about both sons? Can you picture your heavenly Father like this towards you?
6) Forgiveness will be a continuing theme in Comfort.Guide. Think of forgiveness as you re-read this material. Can you see the connection between forgiveness and peace? Can you see areas in which you might need to forgive, and how that might aid your healing process?
RECEIVE … There is so much encouragement here. God wants to soak you in all of it. Receive it and embrace it!!!
NOTE ... This story is so important that we are placing it also in Week 14, with different questions. Let its truth really sink in!
Click HERE to go back to "Week 10 Outline".
Click HERE to go to the next page "Defense Mechanisms"
The following is encouragement for you as if Jesus Christ Himself was speaking. These are meant to give you insight into His Heart, how He thinks, and how He feels about you. Let this encouragement begin to dwell deep within you!
Jesus continued: “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 the property between them.
Not long after that, the younger son got together all that he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in the whole country and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed his pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
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. 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 men.’ So 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.
The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
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. Bring the fatted 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 now found.’ So they began to celebrate.
Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never even gave me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
LUKE 15:11-32 (NIV)
In this particular Note I want to share with you what my Father (and I) are really like. And I have a sense of urgency about this; I so want you in particular to let these words settle deeply into your heart!
In the society in which I grew up, the father of each family was the absolute ruler. The father was the one who made all the decisions, and who commanded all the respect. He could be at times, and was, somewhat removed from the caring of children and the giving of love. The idea that a father would run out, or even go out, to see a child coming, was just too difficult to comprehend and believe. That particular image remains even today, when so many people think of God that same way: a distant, rather stern keeper of accounts. But it is a grossly incorrect image; it’s the exact opposite of the truth!
Note that the father, in my story, saw his errant son “a long way off”, that he had compassion on him, that he ran out to meet him while the son was still on his way, that he gave the son a huge hug, that he kissed him repeatedly, that rather than waiting for an apology and then handing out discipline, the father was overwhelmed with joy and just had to have a party to celebrate. In fact, the father didn’t even comment on the son’s apology; he was too filled with happiness, joy, relief, and thankfulness.
Now I want you to notice that the father once again “went out” and “pleaded” with the older son. Again, this concept was so hard for the original listeners of this story to comprehend. Note that the father didn’t get upset at the narrowness of his older son’s vision, or his blatant selfishness; he didn’t scold and berate the son. Rather, he reminded his son that everything in his father’s world was meant to be shared and enjoyed by that older son, everyday. There were to be no barriers, no hindrances, and no separation. The father indeed tried to strengthen and deepen the relationship between himself and his older son.
Today, you might also be in a far off country, alone and torn up inside. Or, you may be somewhere closer to the father’s estate, yet still not really understanding his heart. You may have spent years in such places. You may sense a separation which has left you empty.
Know this: you have a Father who wants, and is ready, to run out to you, to hug you, to kiss you, to celebrate with you, to give you an abundant life, to share everything He has with you. Today is a great day to start your journey back to Him, and vice versa.
I really like you, and I really love you!
PAUSE … Relax and concentrate on the above encouragement!
REFLECT …
1) When the son decided to leave his family, what human core need(s) might he have wanted to fill? (Check out the "What You Need To Know" tab, at the top of this page, for human core needs information.)
2) About how far was “a long way off” when his father saw him?
3) Why didn’t the father lecture the younger son, and discipline him as he deserved? How would your heavenly Father react as He sees you a long way off, but headed in the right direction?
4) How, and why, did the father restrain himself from anger at the older brother’s narrow vision?
5) During all of this story, what was the Father's attitude about both sons? Can you picture your heavenly Father like this towards you?
6) Forgiveness will be a continuing theme in Comfort.Guide. Think of forgiveness as you re-read this material. Can you see the connection between forgiveness and peace? Can you see areas in which you might need to forgive, and how that might aid your healing process?
RECEIVE … There is so much encouragement here. God wants to soak you in all of it. Receive it and embrace it!!!
NOTE ... This story is so important that we are placing it also in Week 14, with different questions. Let its truth really sink in!
Click HERE to go back to "Week 10 Outline".
Click HERE to go to the next page "Defense Mechanisms"