Our lives should be all about a saviour who is all about people

This thought has been stirring in my heart for the past while. I think sometimes in the midst of life – in our pursuits and trials, in our busyness and complacency we have this tendency to drift towards complexity in our hearts. We get caught up in our own little kingdoms and what we’re about instead of His Kingdom and what’s on His heart.

Preparing for the message last Sunday, I was rocked so much by the whole parable of the prodigal son. In many ways the most surprising part of the scripture wasn’t about the foolishness of the younger brother or even the grace of the father. The most surprising part to me was the ignorance of the older brother – he was in such close proximity to the father, yet had absolutely no clue what is upon the father’s heart.

It scares me to death that sometimes even without knowing it or intending it, I become that older brother. I get busy in my field somewhere building something I think is important – and completely miss the Father’s heart. It scares me to death that it’s so easy for me to forget that in all brutal honesty, there’s not much separating me from the prodigal son – in fact, there is only one thing that does – grace.

No matter where you are at today; you have been extraordinarily, miraculously, lavishly blessed by God’s grace. Even in the greatest storms and deepest valleys of this life, we have been blessed far beyond what we deserved. Jesus, Son of God, perfect & sinless, took upon Himself the punishment that brought us peace. That thought ought to shatter and humble us every single day.

And it ought to break our hearts for the prodigal sons & daughters.

I pray with all my heart that in this coming season of evangelism, our worlds will be wrecked once again by amazing grace, and our hearts will once again be re-aligned to our Father God. Our God who loved this world so -to the point of giving the most precious sacrifice so that none shall perish, and all shall be saved.

Go on, take a few moments to think & pray about the prodigal sons & daughters in your life. Who in your world is upon the Father’s heart?

Then step out of your world into theirs and live, share the good news of Jesus Christ.

See you guys at church, don’t forget the services on the 6th & 13th of August are probably the best ones in the year to invite your unchurched friends to. Let’s all pray together for every aspect of these services and believe God that many sons & daughters will come home to His grace.

Lots of love,

Chris