The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee. And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him” (Luke 15:18-20).

The last several days we have been following a rebellious twenty-four year old Ron across country as he fled over one thousand miles from his parents’ home. He left in a fit of anger because his Christian parents would not allow him to invite his girlfriend to move into his room. After vowing never to return home and after saying some very terrible things to his parents, Ron left. After several months of heading west, Ron ran out of money, his car broke down on I-25, and just when he came to the end of his rope, a stranger by the name of Mike pulled up behind him. To make a long story short, Mike invested much time with Ron over the next few days as he explained to him that God had a wonderful plan for his life. He introduced Him to Christ and His wonderful salvation. Well, the old car couldn’t be fixed, but Ron’s heart surely could. Now he was onboard the plane taxiing to the runway, ready to take off and fly home, thanks to his parents’ generosity. What would he ever tell them? How could he ever apologize for the things he had said? He was deep in thought when the man seated next to him said, “Hi, my name is Pete. What’s yours?” Ron replied. Pete prodded a little more and asked, “So, is this your home or are you headed home?” Ron replied, “Headed home.” Pete exclaimed, “Well, if you don’t mind me intruding, you surely don’t look too happy about it!” Ron managed to bring himself to a small smile and started to explain a little of the details of the last few months. Ron concluded by saying, “I don’t know what I am going to tell my folks when I see them.” There was quiet for just a few seconds when Pete said, “Let me start my introduction all over. My name is Pastor Pete Kenward. Let me share with you about another young man who was headed home and not sure what to say to his dad.” With that, Pastor Pete turned to Luke 15 and shared with him the account of the Prodigal Son. Fifty-five minutes later, as their plane was coming in on final approach, Ron’s countenance was changed. “I just cannot believe how God has been one step ahead of me the entire time. I know exactly what I need to tell my parents. Thank you, Pastor Kenward.” Check back tomorrow and see what happened to Ron in the airport. It probably is not what you expect. How about you? Do you or someone you know need to come back to the person you have hurt? The Bible shows us the way back again.

For today: I am thankful that God forgives even prodigals!

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me” (Isaiah 46:9).

You remember Ron from the last two days. Getting into Mike’s car on I-25 near Colorado Springs, Ron said, “I surely appreciate you stopping and helping me.” Pulling out and onto the Interstate, Mike confessed, “Well, I do see a fair amount of breakdowns along this stretch of highway. I usually call the Troopers and seldom stop. It’s too dangerous. But today I sensed the Lord was going to have someone waiting for me. Divine appointment, I like to call it. When I saw your four-way flashers, I knew you were the one. I see from your state plates that you must be from over a thousand miles away from home. What’s brought you all the way out to my neighborhood?” Mike asked. Ron looked down. He suddenly could not keep the tears from flowing down his cheeks. He tried hard not to cry, but it was to no avail. “I’ve been running from God and my parents,” Ron confessed. Mike quickly replied, “I thought your name was Ron. Now I find out that it is Jonah, and I’m going to have to throw you overboard, right out the window in the passing lane of the Interstate.” For the first time in a long time, Ron smiled. Then he laughed. “Man, it’s like I don’t even know you, but here I am wanting to tell you everything,” Ron said quietly. After sharing the entire story about wanting his girlfriend to move in with him into his parents’ home, being told “No” and leaving home in anger, Ron knew that this was a Divine appointment. Mike quietly said to him, “Ron, you cannot run away from the Lord. His Word says, ‘I am God, and there is none like Me.’” As they pulled into the dealership, Mike continued, “Your car may need a new engine. But even more important, you need a new heart, Ron. He is God. There is no one else like Him, and I would like to show you how you can have a personal relationship with Him and a restored relationship with your parents.” Three days later, a humbled and repentant Ron was boarding his flight to go home. The story isn’t over. Check in tomorrow and perhaps consider inviting a friend to join you as well. Mike and Ron’s parents together were so glad that Ron could never outsmart, outmaneuver, or outrun the Lord.

For today: Are you walking with the Lord? Don’t you wish everyone did?

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me” (Isaiah 46:9).

As you may remember from yesterday, rebellious Ron had been trying to run away from the Lord and from his Godly parents as well. Several months before this, twenty-four year old Ron, who still lived in his parent’s home, was denied permission to move his girlfriend into his room. Storming out of their home, he shouted terrible things to his parents and vowed never to return. Now on I-25 near Colorado Springs, a broken and miserable Ron came to the end of his rope. The check engine light had come on, and the car soon stopped working. In a rage he was hitting the steering wheel when he noticed the car pulling up behind him. Soon there was the tallest man Ron had ever seen standing beside his window. The man bent way down to Ron’s window and with a smile said to him, “Looks like you need a friend. How can I help?” Ron explained the problem about his car and no finances. “Well, I know this is an usual situation. You don’t have to be afraid of me. I’m a Christian, and I want to help. Come on back and get in my car. Let’s get some help for that old car of yours. I have friends who fix cars in the shop in the next town. By the way, my name’s Mike. Who are you?” the kind stranger asked. “Ron. Thanks for stopping,” the stopped-in-his-tracks rebel replied. With that Ron walked back to Mike’s car, and they were on their way for help. Ron’s car needed fixing. But even greater, his heart needed fixing. Wait until you see what happens tomorrow!

For today: There is just no one else like our great God. Isn’t it great belonging to Him?

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God and there is none like Me” (Isaiah 46:9).

Ron was over a thousand miles from home when he finally came to the end of his rope. For several months he had been trying to run from the Lord as well as his family. Rebellion set in quickly and deeply as he rebelled against the reasonable rules of his parents’ home. Ron was twenty-four and still living in his parents’ home. Mom and Dad loved the Lord and were faithful in their walk with Him. Ron wanted his girlfriend to be able to move in with him. Mom and Dad of course refused. They were gracious in their response; however, the answer was still “No!” Ron stormed out of the house, shouted terrible things to his parents, and vowed never to come home or contact them again. Now, without his girlfriend and without his parents, he felt very much alone in Colorado Springs. He had run out of money two days earlier, and now his car had stopped working on I-25. Screaming and hitting his steering wheel, Ron came under heavy conviction. Doubting that God could ever love him, he even doubted that his parents would ever forgive him after some of the things he had said to them. How wrong he was! Ron was about to learn what our great God meant when He said, “I am God, and there is none like Me.” Looking up in the rear-view mirror, Ron saw the car pulling up behind him. Wait until you see what happens tomorrow!

For today: Have you come to the conviction that He alone is God and there is none like Him?

“I will extol Thee, my God, O King; and I will bless Thy name for ever and ever” (Psalm 145:1).

What a powerful Psalm as King David praises the Lord who is his King. In this Psalm, David states that the Lord is great (verse 3); He is gracious (verse 8); and He is good (verse 9). Today is a very special day in my personal life. Today is my wife’s birthday. I met Karen in the third grade, and we grew up together. Following our first date in our senior year of high school, we never dated anyone else. As we look back over these years, Karen and I both are amazed at the greatness, graciousness, and goodness of our great God. There were many things that originally attracted me to Karen back in high school. One of the greatest attractions was her love for the Lord Jesus and her trust in Him. Of the many things that I still find so attractive in the life of my wife, her love for the Lord is still the greatest attraction and blessing. In the happy times as well as the hard times, we need to praise the Lord and bless His holy name.

For today: Our great God is worthy of our great praise!