Coming Home

Good Morning!

I was off work Monday – “President’s Day – a national holiday in which we honor nothing. There aren’t any parades. As far as I know, no ceremonies take place at the White House or in Congress or anywhere else. About the only mention you see is on the History Channel where they run the eight-part series on Presidents and some other programs about the Presidents. But it’s a day off for a lot of people – like me.

My holiday was spent thusly:
1. Sent out a Good Morning
2. Composed the Good Morning for the next day
3. Watched a little part of a movie
4. Took the Sonata to be repaired
5. Welcomed the roofers to the house
6. Studied my lesson for Sunday morning Bible study
7. Thought about today’s Good Morning
8. Made some lunch for the roofers
9. Helped move shingles to the roof
10. Got my rental car – a bright red HHR
11. Grilled some great hamburgers, steaks, and Nathan hot dogs
12. Fell asleep watching something on TV

I am sure that you really aren’t interested in all the above but here are some good things that come from my day off.

First, Norma commented after lunch how she was impressed when Lee, my roofer, blessed the food – out loud – before he ate it. Lee is a golf buddy – and once was just one of those neighborhood kids that caused problems. Lee has had some problems in the past … but that is where those problems are … in the past. And, by the way, who doesn’t have a “past”? Somehow I just believe that God is more interested in what we have learned than in what we have done; and more concerned about our tomorrow than our yesterday. You know, any time you hire somebody to do something, there is always that skepticism about what you are getting. Miss N and I had discussed this … but I think Miss N was won over when he said grace aloud, thanking God for his food, before he ate.

So what did I think about for this morning’s Good Morning? Well, our Sunday morning Bible study has been in Hosea. If you will recall, God told Hosea to take Gomer, a prostitute, as his wife. In this God was pointing out how Israel had offered itself to strange gods. Well, Sunday we take up the following passage:

Hosea 14 (English Standard Version)
A Plea to Return to the LORD
1 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
2Take with you words and return to the LORD; say to him, "Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows[a] of our lips.
3 Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; and we will say no more, 'Our God,' to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy."
4I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.
5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;
6his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon.
7They shall return and dwell beneath my[b] shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
8O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you.[c] I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit.
9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.
Footnotes:
a. Hosea 14:2 Septuagint, Syriac pay the fruit
b. Hosea 14:7 Hebrew his
c. Hosea 14:8 Hebrew him

Maybe it is just me, but the first few verses reminded me of Christ’s story of the prodigal son. I know I have written of this in the past, but it is always good to remember. So here goes:

Luke 15:11-24 (English Standard Version)
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
11And he said, "There was a man who had two sons. 12And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them. 13Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to[a] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17"But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."' 20And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'[b] 22But the father said to his servants,[c] 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.
Footnotes:
a. Luke 15:15 Greek joined himself to
b. Luke 15:21 Some manuscripts add treat me as one of your hired servants
c. Luke 15:22 Greek bondservants

There is more to the story – how the older brother reacted – but let’s just concentrate on the father today. You see I know what it is like to have a child who makes decisions that can place him or her in harm’s way.

I know how the father worried over his son because I have been there. And I know many of you have been as well.

I can imagine how often he looked up from his work, hoping to see his child coming home.

I know the disappointment he felt day after day … until one day he saw the familiar silhouette coming down the road.

And I know the joy when the child chooses to come home.

Imagine, if you can, the joy God feels when one of us makes the choice to return to Him … to come with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and ask Him to forgive us. God doesn’t wait for us to get to the front door … no, He has already sprinted to us, ready to embrace us at our first word.

I know some of you are going through this heartache in your lives today. All I can say is “hang on” because there will come a time when this too shall pass. Keep trusting God … lifting your loved one up in prayer each day. Don’t give them up for someday you will see their silhouette coming down the road … coming home to you.

Agape’

Mr. Jim