Day 39
Don’t let the World Distract You from Your Purpose
I see a blatant movement of sympathy for Satan. It is so bold that it does bring great sorrow to my heart. It is sad to know that so many minds sleep because they choose not to see who they really are. They choose to believe a lie rather than the truth of a new country. A promised land flowing with milk and honey. How glorious to know that my purpose has a place at home. We no longer have to try to be successful in a foreign country. Our father is waiting for us, and he will rejoice at our home coming. . .
The story of the prodigal son always intrigued me. Perhaps you have heard it before:
Their were two sons that lived with their father who had a great estate, with servants, land, and wealth. One son ask his father for his inheritance and went out to a foreign land to make a way for himself. In his youth and ignorance he spent his inheritance and had to start working to support himself. The life that he chose was not easy and it seemed like no one cared to help him out. Near death and starving the son thought about how foolish he was and made up his mind to go back to his father’s house. The son was convinced that if he was sorry enough, and begged for forgiveness that his father would at least feed him and make him like one of his servants. The son was willing to work to have shelter at his father's house.
Before that son could even make it down the long road to his father’s estate, the father saw him from afar off. Jumping with excitement he made an announcement to prepare a feast for the return of his son. He was so very happy that he decided to throw the most magnificent party! (Read Luke 15 11-32)
There are three points that I want you to meditate on:
#1- There are no amount of works that you can do that is going to make your father love you more or less. Your father is happy that you have decided to come back home. There is no deed too unrighteous that your father would not forgive you for. He sees you on your way back and he is preparing to have a party in your honor.
#2- We must not get distracted by the promises of this world. We must not get caught up with the idea of success, wealth, pursuit of happiness, or even world peace. These are not purposes of God. Do not think that you are supposed to be successful in a foreign land without the support of your father’s resources. Live well, live responsibly, with wisdom, and with understanding.
#3- There will be some of us who don’t experience the burdens that the world places on us. Why? Because you may represent the second son in the story. You may have been the one always with God, walking with him and being obedient to his purpose. You have been working in the field and you know the work. Do not become angry at your brother who has returned home. Instead, let us rejoice for all of our brothers and sisters who will soon find their way back home.
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
11Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
13Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
James 4:1-17
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