11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “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. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 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.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “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. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 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.’
Their names were Joe and Benny. Made up names to protect their identities. They are adult brothers in a family we know who hadn't really had a relationship with each other since the break up of a religious group they were involved in decades ago. One brother went with one of the leaders while the other brother went with the other leader. Their parents were caught in the middle of this firestorm of upheaval.
Since the break up of their religious cult their parents never had the opportunity to have everyone sit down as a family at holiday gatherings with the exception of a handful of occasions like weddings, welcoming a new birth. One brother always came. . The occult had influenced their thinking to the point where each brother thought the other brother was off based.
Both brothers have tried to compensate for the pain that had been inflicted on the family by calling their now widow mom on a weekly basis. It seems that when we make a mess out of our lives the natural tendency is to want to run from those messes, close off any relationships associated with those messes, and avoid anything that remotely reminds you of the messes of your past.
As we learn from Pastor Stanley Christianity is a relationship centered belief where God is a master at restoring relationships. The church is full of messes. Peoples lives are messes. Messy divorce, messy breakups, and messy deaths. People come to Christ because of those messes. The story of the Prodigal son is one example.
Only God knows the perfect timing for restored relationships, but this I do know which God wants to have a personal, life giving relationship with you through his son Jesus Christ. God will take all of your messes and will clean them up. If is a addiction he will clean it up. It is an anger problem he will clean it up. If it is forgiving someone he will show you how to forgive. Whatever your messes are God is a master at cleaning up those up.
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