There's No Place Like Home

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

“And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!” - Luke 15:17

Home. Just the mention of the word brings fondness to our hearts and pleasure to our souls. When we find ourselves on a distant trip for several days, we yearn for the comfort of home. The old proverbial saying is true, there's no place like home.

The prodigal son found himself far from home. A series of foolish decisions led him to the pig pen. Pigs are filthy animals, yet this man was jealous of them. The pigs were eating better than he was.

To put it bluntly, his life was a mess and he had no one to blame but himself. He had sown to the wind and was reaping the whirlwind. He had disrespected his father, arrogantly pursued a wicked lifestyle and ultimately faced financial ruin. He had squandered his inheritance and wasted his life. At the pig pen he was enduring the agony of self-inflicted pain. He deserved what he was getting.

Even though the story of the prodigal son was told as a parable, many of us can identify with it. I know I can. You see, once I was a prodigal myself. The Heavenly Father was loving and kind, yet I wanted to live my life my way. I wanted His favor, but not His leadership. I wanted His blessings, but not His fellowship. When Jesus told the story of the prodigal son, He probably had me in mind.

In Jesus' story, the prodigal son finally had a defining moment that changed everything. The Bible says that the prodigal son, “... came to himself.” In other words, an awakening took place. He had an “aha” moment. This comes to different people in different ways. Often it comes when a sinner hears a sermon. It may come while a person is listening to a Gospel song. It may be a word from a Christian friend or relative. In that brief moment, God gets his attention. The Bible refers to it as conviction.

Rather than desiring the pleasures of sin, the sinner now seeks the Father he has mistreated and forsaken. Instead of running away from home, he seeks to return. That's what the prodigal son did. In repentance, he sought the father's house. He was ready to verbalize a long, contrite confession.

He forsook the pig pen and made the humble trip back home. Unworthy and undeserving of acceptance, he came back to his father's house.

The parable of Jesus vividly teaches us about the deceitfulness of sin. The story also shows us the destructive nature of sin. It shows us how undeserving we are of the Father's grace. Thankfully, the story doesn't stop there.

When Jesus shared this story, He said that when the prodigal son neared the father's house, the father saw him and ran to meet him. The father welcomed his son with great love and enthusiasm. The boy was received and presented with the best robe, a ring and shoes. A big feast was held to celebrate the boy's return. He was not received as a servant. He was received as a son. He was home.  He learned that there's no place like home.

The story shows us the depravity of sin and the disgrace of a sinner. Best of all, the story shows us the abundant grace of our Father. His grace is much greater than our sins. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. I was a great sinner but He was a greater Savior. Now I can say, like the old song, “Anywhere is home, if Christ, my Lord, is there.”  There's no place like home.

If you are far from the Father, let me remind you of an another old song:

I’ve wandered far away from God,
Now I’m coming home;
The paths of sin too long I’ve trod,
Lord, I’m coming home.

Coming home, coming home,
Nevermore to roam;
Open wide Thine arms of love,
Lord, I’m coming home.

Perhaps you have wasted your life. Maybe you are in the pig pen right now. There's a better life than the life of sin. Come home right now. The Father will welcome you and receive you today. Why wait any longer?

Jesus is coming soon. The family of God will be gathered together on that day. The Father will open up His house to us and will share it with His children forever. We will be home where we belong. Home with the Father.

There's no place like home.

Dinner Time

 DINNER TIME

“Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.” - Psalm 81:10

Did you have a good meal on Thanksgiving Day? I did. In fact, I'll probably have to loosen my belt another notch. There's nothing like enjoying a great meal with family. I've enjoyed seeing pictures on Facebook of families gathering around a dinner table for Thanksgiving.

All of this causes me to wonder. What would happen in America if Christians were as zealous about spiritual food as they are about natural food? What if our hunger for spiritual things exceeded our appetite for the Thanksgiving dinner? How many people would be in church on Sunday if they had a hunger for God and His Word? How would our lives be different?

God gives us a great invitation: “Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.” Just as a baby bird opens its mouth for the mother to feed it, we should open our mouths for the Lord to feed us Himself.

The real problem is our lack of appetite. When you eat too much junk food, your appetite diminishes when dinnertime arrives. The devil has been very successful in keeping Christians busy feasting on junk food. Television and the internet devour our time and ruin our spiritual appetite. It is not uncommon for a man to drive hundreds of miles, just to sit in the cold for three hours so he can cheer his favorite football team. The same guy will find it difficult to go to church the next day. If he does go, he will complain if the service lasts more than an hour. Junk food ruins the appetite.

Job once said, “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” WOW! What would our churches be like if every member had a greater hunger for God's Word than for their next meal? What would your life be like if you had an insatiable hunger for the Lord? We need our spiritual appetite restored.

When Jesus fed 5,000 people, the Bible says, “And they did all eat, and were filled.” The people ate until they were full. On Thanksgiving Day, you probably ate until you were filled. When I finished eating on Thanksgiving Day, I bragged on the food and the cook. I felt good! The meal was satisfying.

When was the last time that happened to you spiritually? When was the last time that you left church satisfied? When was the last time you feasted on God's Word and walked away feeling wonderful? Do you recall a time when you enjoyed church so much that you couldn't quit talking about it?

Isaiah 55:2 says, “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” The Lord is challenging us to seek food that truly satisfies. Why waste time and money on anything less?

The Bible says, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.” Notice that this famine is not a famine for the preaching of the Word. Instead, it is a famine for the hearing of the Word. In my opinion, this prophetic verse describes the spiritual landscape of America today. The Word is available, but most will not hear it.

In 2 Kings chapter 7, the people of Samaria were starving. The had a dire need. Four lepers finally said, “Why sit we here until we die?” In their desperation, they put their lives on the line and went seeking food. Ultimately, their act of desperation was rewarded by the Lord. Not only were the lepers fed, but the famine in Samaria came to an end.

It is time for Christians to rise up and say, “Why sit we here until we die?” Why should our churches die? Why should families be destroyed? Why should we just sit idly by and watch souls perish? It is time to throw away the junk food and come to God's table.

When His disciples were dragging fish to the shore, Jesus gave them an invitation: “Come and dine.” The Lord prepared a meal for His disciples. Did you know that Jesus could cook? Can you imagine how good the food was?

He poses the same invitation to us. The Bible says, “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” Come and dine. It is dinnertime right now.

Open your mouth wide … and He will fill it.

Thank You

THANK YOU

“In every thing give thanks.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

As humans, we find it difficult to say the right things at times. We find it challenging and embarrassing to say things like, “I'm sorry,” “I was wrong,” or “I love you.” Despite the difficulty in saying these things, it is imperative that we get used to saying them … and saying them with sincerity.

Let's be honest. Most of us are terrible at expressing our gratitude. When I was growing up, my parents had to train me to say, “thank you.” It didn't come easy. These days, it is getting easier to express my thanks. This is due, in part, to the fact I recognize my unworthiness to receive anything. I tend to appreciate the effort and cost involved in the things I receive. Although I am still learning, I don't want to be apathetic about expressing my gratitude.

It is important to thank others for the things they do. Whether it is a waitress at a restaurant, a mechanic who repairs your car or a doctor that diagnoses and treats an ailment, we need to let others know that we appreciate the work they do for us.

Expressing such gratitude needs to begin at home. Let your spouse know that you appreciate the things he or she does for you. “Thank you,” should be two words that are verbalized in your home daily.

Most of all, we need to express our thanks to the Lord. He is the One responsible for all our blessings, including many that we take for granted or overlook.

As we approach Thanksgiving Day here in America, most Americans will treat this holiday as just a day off from work. They will celebrate with food, family and football. Yet this holiday is designed to remind all of us that we need to express our thanksgiving to the Lord. As Christians, may this be our primary goal on Thanksgiving Day ... and every day.

Despite all of the bad news that surrounds us, we have much to be grateful for. The Lord has been good to us. We should let Him know how much we appreciate Him.

Let us thank Him for our daily provisions. I believe Christians should give thanks for their food every day. Additionally, the Lord has provided us with a place to live, clothes to wear and resources to make our lives comfortable. When was the last time you thanked Him for these things?

Also, we should thank Him for family and friends. The Lord has granted us special relationships to make our lives rich and full. He has brought people into our lives who encourage, inspire and challenge us. Be grateful for these special people. Most of all, thank the Lord for them.

Don't forget to thank the Lord for the portion of health you enjoy. It is only by God's grace that you are alive today. It is by His grace that you are not in the ICU or a nursing home. Your next breath is a gift from the Lord.

Most of all, we need to thank the Father for giving us His Son. He saw our hopeless condition and did the unthinkable. He sent His Son to die upon a cross to redeem us from sin. You and I are loved deeply by the One who sits upon the throne. Through the blood of Christ, our sins have been forgiven. We've experienced the second birth. We are now children of God. What magnificent love the Father has for unworthy people like us! Never forget to thank Him for this sacrificial love. Never forget to thank Him for salvation by grace through His Son.

Lord, we sincerely say to You, THANK YOU!

The Throne of Grace

THE THRONE OF GRACE

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” - Hebrews 4:16

When your burdens seem overwhelming, do you have someone you can call, knowing that they will pray for you? Do you have a prayer partner or someone special who knows how to reach heaven on your behalf? I think every person should have such a friend.

Here's the big question. Are you that friend to someone else? When someone asks you to pray, do you take the request seriously and pray zealously for the need? Do others know you to be a person of prayer? Can others count on you, knowing that you will pray for them when they ask?

Prayer is a responsibility, but it is also a privilege. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” When we pray with faith, we come to the throne of God.

Ordinary people like you and me are not permitted in many important areas. For instance, we aren't permitted to visit the Oval Office any time we want to. Yet there is a place we can come at anytime that is greater than the Oval Office. We can come to the throne of God!!!

The Bible invites believers to “... come boldly unto the throne of grace.” Why should we come boldly unto the throne? The reason we can come boldly to the throne is because we have been given personal access to the throne. Let me explain.

When you get on the internet, you must have a password. Once properly set, this password gives you access to the internet. In a similar fashion, we have been given access to the throne of God with a special password: JESUS. When Jesus died on the cross, He gave us privilege to use His Name to approach the throne. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn in two. The veil had been placed there to keep people away from the Holy of Holies. The veil split when Jesus died, opening the way for us to come to the very throne room of God. We don't come to the throne in arrogance, boasting of our worthiness. Instead, we come with confidence that the Name of Jesus is worthy of the Father's attention. We aren't worthy, but we come in the Name of One who is.

In the book of Esther, no one could come before the king uninvited, including the queen herself. Anyone who would dare approach the king uninvited would be put to death. The only exception would be if he held out his golden scepter. The king was under no obligation to hold out his golden scepter, but when he did, it was an act of grace. Brothers and sisters, because of Jesus, the golden scepter of grace has been held out to every believer who comes to the throne in His Name. Isn't that exciting news?

When we pray in the Name of Jesus, we come to the throne. Our prayers are heard and answered by the One who occupies that throne. It is there that we find mercy and grace that we need. Not just for ourselves, but for others, too. Grace is God's unmerited favor. Grace is the mercy and blessings God bestows upon us in spite of our unworthiness. We need His grace. So do others. Thankfully, there is a place we can go to find grace for ourselves and others. The Bible refers to God's throne as the throne of grace.

R. A. Torrey gives us great advice about prayer, “Before a word of petition is offered, we should have the definite and vivid consciousness that we are talking to God, and should believe that He is listening to our petition and is going to grant the things that we ask of Him. We should look to the Holy Spirit to really lead us into the presence of God and should not be hasty in words until He has actually brought us there.”

Be a person of prayer. Stay in close communion with the Lord. Be a person that others can look to when they have a desperate need for prayer. Let us continually come to the throne, talk with the King and receive His blessings. It is a glorious privilege to approach the very throne of God.

Come boldly to the throne of grace.

Distractions

DISTRACTIONS

“But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” - Matthew 14:30

It was a Saturday afternoon. I was about 15 years old when it happened. Our family was outside on a sunny summer day, mowing the front yard. Dad was using the riding mower. The front yard is rather steep, so he had to balance himself to keep the mower from turning over as he mowed. Using a riding mower on such a steep area is probably not a good idea, but he did it anyhow.

The road on the mountain was a one-lane dirt road at the time. It ran parallel to the bottom of the front yard. A guy was driving his truck on the road and saw Dad riding a mower on that steep yard. He took his eyes off the road and kept watching Dad balance the mower as he mowed. What the driver didn't notice was that another pickup was on the ridge road going in the opposite direction. The two pickups hit each other, knocking one of the trucks off the road into the wooded area below the road. No one was injured and some neighbors came and eventually pulled the truck out from under the hill.

I've never forgotten that incident. From the place I was mowing, I could see the two trucks were about to collide, but I was powerless to keep it from happening. It all took place because one driver was distracted.

Here's a Bible question for you. How many people in the Bible walked on water? The correct answer, of course, is two. We know that Jesus walked on the water, but most people forget that Peter also walked on the water. When he saw Jesus walking on the water, Peter asked Jesus if he could also walk on the water. When he was invited to come, Peter got out of the boat and began walking on the water.

Yet something happened. The Bible says, “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink.” The text seems to indicate that he had his eyes on Jesus when he began walking on water, but the stormy conditions caught his attention. Peter got distracted and down in the water he went.

I can identify with that story. There have been times when I've gotten distracted from my walk with the Lord … and down I went. Distractions can hinder us. Distractions can lead to failure. Peter got distracted and began to sink. Perhaps you feel like you are sinking today. If you trace it back, you'll probably find that you got distracted.

The enemy wants us to get our eyes off of Jesus. He wants us to focus on anything except the Lord. To be rather honest, it is easy to get distracted. So many things are placed along the path to get our attention. Some seem decent and others are downright sinful. Yet all of them are meant to divert our attention away from the Lord. They are distractions.

Let's get brutally honest for a moment. Television, Facebook and hobbies can easily distract us from the things that matter most. It seems like many believers have been distracted by politics and unnecessary religious debates. Enormous amount of time is wasted on fruitless, futile endeavors. Instead of walking with God and winning souls, most are distracted, pursuing something other than God's will.

Returning to the story of Peter walking on water, the distractions he faced were real. Stormy conditions existed. When he focused on the storm rather than the Savior, his faith turned to fear. Instead of walking on water, he began to sink in the water. Distractions have a way of doing that. Perhaps that is a description of your life right now. At one point, you were walking in victory, but now you are sinking in defeat. Distractions have caused your focus to shift from Jesus to something else. Now things are a mess.

Here's some good news. If distractions have diverted your attention away from the Lord, He is still merciful. Perhaps your focus has shifted from Jesus to the world. You may have taken your eyes off of Jesus, but He has never lost sight of You. You may have gotten distracted, but He hasn't. Perhaps you've been unfaithful, but He remains faithful. When Peter got distracted, he began to sink. In that critical moment, he cried to Jesus, saying, “Lord, save me.” It was a short, pitiful prayer, but Jesus answered by stretching forth His hand and rescuing Peter.

If you feel like you are sinking, call on the Lord. Look to Jesus, by faith, and ask Him to help you. He still rescues sinking people.

Yes, distractions can be destructive. That's why the Bible instructs us to be diligent. Walk by faith, not by sight. When you walk by sight, you'll be easily distracted and defeated.

Keep focused on Jesus.

Overwhelmed

 OVERWHELMED

“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” - Psalm 61:2

Life is complicated these days. There are so many demands on our schedule, which is overcrowded already. To add to this, we face the stress of family concerns, financial worries and health issues. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by it all.

What should a person do when he or she feels overwhelmed? The temptation is to get away from it all and hope these problems resolve themselves. Of course, this is foolishness. We cannot run from the problems of life.

At times, it feels like we are drowning in the ocean of cares. We can feel like we are losing a wrestling match against our problems. It may feel like a mountain of trouble has fallen on us. It is easy to feel overwhelmed.

The good news is that the Bible gives us insight about such circumstances. The psalmist recognized that overwhelming situations come in this life. He wrote, “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

From this verse we learn several things.

First of all, we need to be honest about our situation. The psalmist wrote, “when my heart is overwhelmed.” The temptation is to live in denial. Pretend that situations are better than they really are. Alternately, it is tempting to run from the problems. In another psalm, the writer said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.” I think we can relate with this. Perhaps this describes your life at this moment. Yet we will never find lasting relief until we embrace the truth. The first step to finding help is to realize that we need help.

Secondly, we need to use the resource of prayer. When the psalmist wrote this verse, he was speaking these words as a prayer to the Lord. Our problems tend to drive us to our knees. In our desperation, we need to seek the face of God.

Next, trust the leadership of the Lord. The psalmist wrote, “... when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me...” Seek the guidance of the Lord. When we are going through tough times, many worldly people will give us their advice. Yet the Bible says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” When we cannot see the path ahead, we can trust the One who sees the unseen and knows all things. We can trust Him.

Also, we need to abide in the Lord. We should find our resting place in God. The psalmist wrote, “... lead me to the rock...” We are safe and secure when we are anchored in the Rock of Ages. We find rest when our resting place is God. The rock is not meant as a place of visitation, but a place to abide.

Finally, worship God from our place of despair. The psalmist wrote, “... lead me the rock that is higher than I.” Notice that the rock is, “higher than I.” When we feel overwhelmed, we need to remember how great our God is. Charles Spurgeon once said, “O dear friend, when thy grief presses thee to the very dust, worship there!” The Rock of Ages is higher, stronger and greater than we are. When we worship, we realize that He is greater than our problems, stronger than our struggles and wiser than our enemies. Our burdens get a little lighter when we realize that our burdens --- and our lives --- are in the hands of One who is greater than everything.

We are not promised a life free of overwhelming circumstances. However, we find help and hope in the One who is in control of all things.

Nothing is overwhelming to Him.

Distant Disciples

DISTANT DISCIPLES

“And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.” - Mark 14:54

The word, “disciple,” is defined as a follower or learner. The twelve men that Jesus chose to walk with Him during His ministry are often referred to as disciples. In a broader sense, every follower of Jesus is a disciple since he or she is following Jesus.

In Mark 14:54, the Bible says, “And Peter followed him afar off.” Peter was a disciple. He was a follower of Jesus, but in this critical moment, he followed afar off.

Does that sound like you? Are you following afar off? Perhaps there was a time when you walked closely with the Lord. The fellowship was sweet. Your joy was full. Life was wonderful. For some reason, that is not the case right now. Perhaps you've quit going to church. The Bible that you once loved and cherished is collecting dust. Your prayer-life is anemic. You never mention the Lord in conversations anymore. You've become a distant disciple. You are following afar off.

What caused Peter to drift away from the Lord? First, the Lord predicted this would happen. Peter confidently boasted that he would follow the Lord, even unto death. I don't think it was an empty boast. I believe that Peter was sincere in his statement. Yet the Lord told Peter that he would deny Jesus three times before the end of that very night. Our self-boasting is a form of pride. Pride leads to destruction.

Secondly, Peter faced fear and uncertainty. Jesus was on trial. The other disciples had fled. Peter stood in an unfriendly crowd, witnessing the trial of Jesus. The entire event was filled with hatred. It was a hostile situation that could quickly erupt into a riot. All the animosity was directed to the One that Peter had loved and followed. Peter probably knew that if his own identity were revealed, he could be facing death himself.

The longer you follow afar off, the easier it is to stay there. Such was the case for Peter. Notice a few things about his condition.

THERE WAS COLDNESS

Peter warmed himself by a fire. Even though he was physically cold, it was his spiritual condition that was most frigid. When you get away from the fire, you tend to get cold. The spiritual heat we receive when walking with the Lord is gauged upon our nearness to Him. After Jesus had walked with two from Emmaus, they said one to another, “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” If you follow afar off from the source of the flame, don't be surprised when you get cold.

THERE WAS COWARDICE

Peter had showed boldness many times. Now he was vulnerable and weak. When he was accused of being a disciple of Jesus, Peter bluntly denied the charge three separate times. He was once bold, but now a coward. When we follow afar off, we often face defeat and disgrace.

THERE WAS CONTRITION

Peter followed afar off and ended up regretting it. One of the greatest failures in Christian history was Peter's denial of the Lord. After this, “he went out and wept bitterly.” My greatest failures in the Christian life have come when I followed afar off. The failures we encounter are often the result of following distantly, not the cause of it. If we neglect our spiritual communion with God, we slowly drift from Him. Eventually, like Peter, we find ourselves afar off.

Here's the good news. If you are a distant disciple, that can change today. If you are following afar off, you can get close to the Lord again. Peter failed greatly, but his encounter with the risen Redeemer brought him close to the Lord once more. Peter would go on to preach the great evangelistic message on the Day of Pentecost. He would be a leader in the early church. He eventually had two epistles included in the canon of Scripture. In spite of his failures, the Lord still used Peter.

If you are following afar off, let me give you some suggestions. First of all, realize your situation. Admit that you are far from the Lord. Secondly, repent. Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of direction. Third, draw close to the Lord. The Bible says that if we draw close to God, He will draw close to us. The next move is yours. Get close to Him again. Next, be diligent to stay close to the Lord. Get back in church. Get back to serving God. Read your Bible daily. Pray often. Serve others. Give generously in the Name of the Lord. You will never be lukewarm or cold in your faith if you stay close to the flame. Stay close to Jesus. Walk in close communion to Him each day.

We are walking as close to God as we want to. We don't have to be distant disciples.