The Grass Isn’t Always Greener On The Other Side

In review of Luke 15:20 it says, “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”

Bottom Line:

God forgives and we welcome you back into his family with open arms.

What this means to me:

Like this Son, I too had wandered off on my own, spending what I had on my own desires. However God got my attention and I came back to Him. I’m certain that God also had compassion on me and welcomed me back.

Today's passage comes from Luke 15, the parable of the lost son. As I've seen from the two prior parables, God is keenly interested in bringing the lost back to him. When the lost son decided to humble himself, ask for forgiveness, and return, the father welcomed him with excitement and open arms.

Also in the two previous parables, we see a seeker actively looking for the coin and the sheep, both of which could not return on their own. In this third parable the father was watching and waiting. He was dealing with a human with a will of his own, however he was ready to greet the son if he returned. In the same way, God's love is constant, patient and welcoming. He will search for and give anyone the opportunity to respond, but he will never force someone to come to him. Like the father in this parable, God also waits patiently for us to come to our senses.

In the first two parables, the sheep became lost because it foolishly wandered away; the coin was lost through no fault of it's own; and the son left out of selfishness. God's great love reaches out and finds us sinners no matter why or how we get lost.

Interestingly enough the prodigal son went out in search of something more wonderful than what they already had, only to find it to be an enormous disappointment, much like the “grass is always greener” syndrome. Many including myself often lose sight of what really matters. So we set off to search the world over, only to find that what we yearn for was right in our own backyard all along.

I can use the parable of the prodigal son to remind myself of anytime I tell God I have a better idea for my life, or that I want to follow my own path instead of the one He has painstakingly designed just for me.

Today can be the day I give up my pursuit for something else out there (for me today, this would be a hope for a newer work role to find significance in) and return home and receive the gifts my Father has reserved just for me. He is patiently waiting for me to stop wandering through the far country and come to Him so He can bless me with abundance I cannot contain.

God will let me wander as long as my heart desires. Perhaps I should realize how tired I am of doing things my way and go home.

Learning Why My Way Isn’t Working

In review of Luke 5:4-5 it says, “When [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets’”

Bottom Line:

When Jesus asks, do it.

What this means to me:

When Jesus asks me to do something, no matter how unusual the request seems, I should do it. Things done on my effort alone will not bear the same of that which God could do through me.

Today's passage comes from the first part of Luke chapter 5 and describes the first disciples of Jesus. One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. Jesus noticed two empty boats, stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push out to water. There he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. When he had finished speaking, he told Simon to go out deeper and let down his nets for a catch. Master, Simon replied, we worked hard all night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, I'll do it and this time their nets were so full the nets began to tear. They shouted to and were aided by their partners in the other boat. Soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. When Simon realized what happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, "Oh, Lord, please leave me, I'm such a sinful man." Jesus replied, "don't be afraid!" From now on you'll be fishing for people!. After they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

Simon had to admit failure to Jesus. Afterall, he was a fisherman by trade and likely good at it. It was how he made a living. But I’m sure there are times when even the pros fish all night and catch nothing.

I’m sure these guys were doing their best, however sometimes even our best is not good enough. There will always be situations that are out of our control. For instance I can’t control the economy. I can’t control the weather. I can’t control a lot of things in life that will affect my life. I may have tried hard, but it just doesn’t seem to make any difference and I don’t have much to show for it.

So what this passage teaches me is that I need to get Jesus in my boat. In other words, let him be the center of my job. Then I need to admit that my way isn’t working. The Bible calls it confession, and it can be tough.

It’s tough to admit that my way isn’t working because of Pride. Personally I don’t want anybody to think I can’t handle it. After all, I’m in charge. I’ve got it all together. Therefore, I think I can handle everything by myself, even if it means working 12 hours a day.

Also, stubbornness gets in the way as well. I’m unwilling to change the way I do things. One of my greatest enemies of tomorrow’s success is yesterday’s success.

Lastly fear. It's hard for me to admit I’ve fished all night and caught nothing. I’m afraid that people will think less of me. I can be afraid to get Jesus into my boat because he’ll steer it in a direction I may not want to go.

So if I’m doing my best in my job, and it just don’t seem to have much to show for it. I need to let go of my pride, stubbornness, and fear, and see how Jesus can take my boat and fill it to overflowing.

Today I will consider what is it that I want God to accomplish through me in my career? Will I be willing to give him control? What confession(s) do I need to make.