Dead, But Now Alive. Lost, But Now Found

Each Sunday school class at our church does Summer Bible Studies at locations away from church. Each week the lesson book is passed to a different person to facilitate the lesson for the next week. The men said that they wanted a woman to lead next week. Every woman there automatically and jokingly said, “Oh, I’m gonna be sick next week.”
Guess who got picked?! I will admit that I’m perfectly cool with that. It gives me an opportunity to dig even deeper into God’s word and pull out something that I may have never considered before.

Next week’s lesson is based on Luke 15:11-32, The Lost Son.

As I read the parable again, two phrases jumped out at me: “Give me” (vs.12) and “Make me” (vs.19). Here is how it reads; 12 “And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of the goods that falls to me.’ “, and 19 “and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your servants.”
“Give me” reminds me of my arrogance when it comes to expecting things from the Lord. My demands can be pretty lofty at times.
I’ll never say, though, that I shouldn’t ask anything of my Father. He delights in me and wants to give me the desires of my heart. What I am saying is that I get high-minded in what I think is right for me, not stopping to consider God’s best.
“Make me” is a humbling statement. All too often it comes after disobedience, hardheadedness and much anguish. It’s a time of surrendering my whole being to Him and making Him Lord of my life.

God is so faithful to restore me after I’ve truly repented of a sin. Is it always easy to come back to a place of repentance after straying so far? No, not for me, but I do know that God’s arms are always open and waiting. He’s saying to me, “You’re alive! You’re found!”