All this past week our team has been splitting in two and doing house-to-house evangelism and at the beginning, we (Robin, Kyle & I) struggled, but then Pastor Manuel helped out by letting us know what he really wanted for each house. At our second house of the week, Pastor Manuel asked us all to share our own testimonies. I know mine, and so often I belittle it, especially in comparison to others who have had those “prodigal son” type stories. But he has since asked me to share the story at least 4 other times. So I took the hint, and I will share it here as well.
I have been BLESSED to grow up in a strong, Christian family…I didn’t do the types of things that people often do to realize that they are not living God’s way…I’d encourage you to read through this version of the prodigal son from Luke 15:11-32…pay special attention to the OTHER son…
The Parable of the Lost Son
11Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12The 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. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He 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 men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ 20So 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.b]”>[b]‘
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. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24For 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. 26So 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. 29But
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. 30But 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. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ “
I am the OTHER son…that’s my realization, that in my own self-righteousness I have missed out on the blessings that have been there all along. I didn’t wander and squander, but I neglected to take advantage of the presence of God in my life! I shared this with my teammates yesterday and they too highlighted just how much I have taken for granted. I grew up in a Christian environment, plugged into a Christian environment, but I didn’t take the initiative to DO, to SEEK, to ASK.
I’m here now, looking back, I realize there were many times in which I did take the opportunity, and I don’t regret anything, but I hope to do more. I want to give more to God. Most of all I want to find a way to THANK him for the way in which he has saved me from myself.
Thanks for reading, thanks for prayers…I love and miss you all!! I will be posting pictures from Haiti soon, and I will be taking pics of the D.R. within in the next week!!
