[Membersandfriends] Friday, October 08, 2004

Thu Oct 7 22:02:12 PDT 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Friday, October 08, 2004

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Nurture a Child

Nurture the spiritual life of a child -- send them a subscription to POCKETS, a devotional magazine for children, ages 6-12.  http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?item_id=12897&ep_id=246
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THE PRODIGAL
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Luke 15:11-32 (NRSV)

Then Jesus said, "There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."' So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe--the best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate.

     "Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'"

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The father said [to his elder son], "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours."
-- Luke 15:31 (NRSV)
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I was the prodigal who left the church after age 18.  Fifteen years later I returned as do many parents who want to bring spirituality into the life of their children.

I didn't understand the full story of the prodigal when I first read it.  I felt pity for the elder brother who stayed home all his life.  I understood how he felt cheated and used by his father, hating the attention given to the brother who had squandered his inheritance.  But after years of Bible study, spiritual reflection, and the support of my church, I fin ally understood that the prodigal son was the one who was cheated by his own desire for what he thought was freedom.

The children of our church who stayed close to God have grown into beautiful, God-loving adults.  They seem more able to handle the situations, trials, and tribulations encountered in daily living.  By staying away as I did, I cheated myself.  I now see that only when we seek the loving, protecting arms of our Savior Jesus Christ are we truly free.

Prayer:  Thank you, God, for loving us unconditionally.  Help us to recognize our blessings and to remain faithful to you.  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
When we wander away from God, we cheat ourselves.

-- Dennis Subbiondo (New York, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: The prodigals of the world

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RELATED READING ...

YEARNING FOR GOD: Reflections of Faithful Lives explores the stories of more than 40 faithful individuals, offering an excellent Group Discussion Guide with thought-provoking questions. Through the authors' sensitive work, readers will identify with the yearning for meaning and justice and other desires common to all people.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=114285

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The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.