Time for Labor Day barbeque--with steaks on the grill, corn on the cob, hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, watermelon--for the whole family--except one--he's far from home--friendless, loveless, penniless, eating with the pigs! You've guessed it by now-- a 90s paraphrase of the most famous parable in the Bible--The Prodigal Son! A beloved story our Lord told to illustrate the love of the Father for the sinner....but wait a minute...could it be He told it for the saint as well?
Well, I'm no theologian, but this week I know the Lord brought the story to life for THIS saint in cyberspace, who climbs high-praise mountains and plunges into pitted valleys with the best of them--real people like Elijah, John the Baptist, Mary, Martha--and YOU! It's in our pitted valleys the Father meets us--and that's exactly where He met me this week.
But what in the world does THIS have to do with the Prodigal Son? So you're a son, a daughter, saved by grace; you don't live in the pigpen of sin....you've not spent your fortune on wine, women/men, and song...but you live just next door...you've fallen into the pit of discouragement, tired in body, soul, and spirit; totally spent from the stresses, burdens, ministries of life. Ever been there? You're the helper, the ministry person, the victorious, joyful Christian...who do YOU turn to? I know who the prodigal turned to--he said, "I will arise and go to my Father." Let's arise and go....but where shall we go? Follow me...
A Helping Word...or Two!
I will arise and go...SHOPPING!...Labor Day sales...that's it; buy a new dress, a new suit--70% off--now that will surely pick me up...or will it?
"No, My child. I satisfy the longing soul..."
I will arise and go...OUT TO EAT!...A candlelight dinner for two--salad bar, steak, baked potato with the works, a rich dessert--ahh, that will make me feel better...or will it?
"No, My child. I satisfy the longing soul..."
I will arise and go...TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS!...The Lord's blessed me with a wonderful family and great friends. I'll confide in them; they'll love me, pray for me, hug me--and that will pick me right up...or will it?
"No, My child. I satisfy the longing soul..."
But why, Lord? They're all good things--any secular counselor would recommend them--and probably add exercise to it! A Christian counselor would recommend them--and probably add Bible reading and prayer to it too.
ALL good things--no problem--except...the Bible says, "I will arise and GO TO MY FATHER." And THAT, my friends, is the REST OF THE STORY...for as I wrote a dear friend, out of my tired spirit came these strange words, "I'll be ok...I feel like the prodigal son...and I WILL arise and go to my Father," NOT strange words at all--for my LORD wrote them into my spirit, and THAT'S when the healing began!
I drove down the avenue with those words ringing in my ear--wrote this outline on my grocery list as I drove (NOT a smart thing to do!); but as I opened my heart to HIM, He spoke...."Peggie, you send everyone else to the Well; YOU need to go there YOURSELF." The words came to life for me--with tears coming into my eyes, I visualized MYSELF, webmaster, writer of devotionals, ministry person, sitting at the Well with MY Master--He didn't have to speak another word; for HE, the Word of God, became RHEMA, life to me--I knew He had touched my tired spirit--I knew everything was going to be ok!
And it IS--this personal testimony is for every tired, depressed Christian; every over-worked, burned-out servant of the Lord, SPENT...like the prodigal son! You too can say with faith, "I will arise and go to my Father," and as you say the words, the Father will reach out to touch your tired body, soul and spirit. Just so you can bless Him and be happy? NO! ! You see, He has a plan and a purpose for every dark pit we encounter--He wants our deliverance to bring praise to His Name--to tell another "pit person," there is hope and life and joy when we arise and go--not shopping, not eating, not to friends and family, but TO THE FATHER! He did it for me--and I know He will do it for you!
I don't know what kind of pit you're in right now--it may be alot deeper than my mini-pit this week, but I know a Father who's in the business of bringing His people out of pits to praise His Name. Believe it, stand on His Word, and see what happens! Now, after the Lord brings back that smile and joy, I have an idea for you--arise and go enjoy that Labor Day barbeque!
And that's just a word or two--from my heart to yours!
