Faith Focus

Greetings friends,

I ask that as we begin our spiritual journey together we begin to take some time daily (if you are not already) to read the Scripture and pray. I thought it would be beneficial for us to focus on the same passage of Scripture for the week. This week, we will focus on Sunday’s text, Luke 15:11-32, commonly known as the Parable of the Prodigal Son. If you were not in present on Sunday and have not yet watched it, I encourage you to do so. The sermon focus on how the parable illustrated the character of God, Our Father, and the responses and relationships with his two sons that had issues and struggles.

Format (this is a repeat from last week, and will be consistently present for anyone new and as a reminder for all):

Find a quiet place and time to focus on the Word, and to hear from God through it. It doesn’t have to be long, for some it will be longer than others. I encourage you, if possible, to do this practice in the morning. You will then find that God brings it to your mind throughout your day.

For greater impact I encourage you to get some paper and a pen and journal daily what thoughts and impressions God brings to mind. Write out also your own thoughts and your own prayers, making sure to leave space within your time for God’s response. Listen intently, and notice what rises up within you- what you are thinking, feeling, memories that arise and ideas that spring up. It may be something God would want you to address within yourself and/or with others. It may be something God is inspiring you to begin or end. God’s possibilities are infinite! After time, it is often beneficial to go back and read what you have written, and notice how God has been moving in your life (and praise God for it!).

Begin with prayer, quieting yourself within and opening up to hearing what God would like to reveal to you. Praise God for who he is, for loving you, being with you, and more. Then ask God to speak to you; to open your heart and mind to hear his message. (if you are journaling, you could write out the prayer)

Read the Scripture passage over twice; once as a read through, and the second time slowly, meditatively. Notice what God illuminates for you. Notice what words or ideas are “jumping off the page at you,” impacting you from the Scripture. Ask God why that is being highlighted for you. What is God saying to you? What is God asking you to say, do, change, pray about, etc.? What is the application for my life today? **Most importantly- what am I going to do about it? (If you are journaling you could write it all out, which reinforces it in a greater way)

I have put together some daily questions based upon the Scripture. You may use those, but also feel free to deviate away from it if God is leading you there. They are simply offered to prompt contemplation with God. There is much more in this passage, feel free to delve in more!

At the end of your time pray again. I recommend praying throughout, but the ending prayer would include praise, thanking God for revelation, and asking for the Holy Spirit to continue to reveal, bringing to mind God’s will. Ask God for the courage, empowerment, and opportunity to do what you have determined God is asking you to do.

Luke 15:11-32

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

*The King James Version of the prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven

Hallowed be thy name

Thy kingdom come

Thy will be done

On earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

And forgive us our trespasses

As we forgive those who trespass against us

And lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil.

*then a doxology is added: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

**Weekly Challenge– pray for God to give an opportunity to pray for someone, in person. Take a risk and step into that opportunity and ask that person if you could pray. If they say yes, pray with them right then and there, remembering to fill the prayer with empathy, love, and grace. If they say no, make sure to still pray on your own- don’t just tuck it away and forget about it!

**Begin to journal the experiences, “God moments” that are beginning to happen, the answers to prayer, the words that you are hearing God speak to you. Save it. Some day in the future it will be very good to look back and read and remember!

DAILY QUIET TIME WITH GOD:

Monday: Jesus describes the character of the younger son by what he asks of his Father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” He is basically saying that he would prefer his Father dead so that he could have the wealth that he would receive as an inheritance. He wanted to go far away, do his own thing, and cut his Father out of his life. Why do you think he would want to do this? What does this say about his character? In deep prayer consider, asking God if there are any areas in your life where you have wanted to cut God out. Are there areas of your life where you would prefer to “do your own thing” rather than have God involved? Pray for a changed heart; a willingness to stay connected to the loving Father in all areas of your life.

Tuesday: Place yourself in the Father’s position. How do you believe he felt when his younger son essentially told him to drop dead and that he no longer wanted anything to do with him? Why did he receive him back? What do you believe this says about the character of the Father that he later received the boy back willingly and eagerly? As we are called to reflect the character of God within us, how does this relate to any relationships or situations you may have? Ask God to reveal anywhere that you may need to grow in this area.

Wednesday: Why do you think the younger son did not return to his Father once all of his money ran out? Why did he wait until he was hungry and working with pigs? There are likely people we know who have chosen to go away from God, just as the younger brother did. Consider how the Father wanted the boy to return, and was waiting and watching in hope and anticipation. Are there people you know that you have that same concern for, and are wanting them to return? Sadly, sometimes people go far, and sometimes they hit rock bottom before they return. Take some time today to pray that they “come to themselves” and repent, returning to God. Pray for opportunities to be the person to speak truth and love into the life of your loved one, or someone else’s loved one, who has turned away. Pray for courage to reach out and be bold in love and grace. Pray for God to give you the words.

Thursday: The older brother isn’t considered as often, yet what he struggles with can easily drift into our lives if we do not guard our hearts against it. He is angry, bitter, resentful, jealous, prideful, and more. His interpretation of his experience was negative, considering himself a victim, a slave, someone who was neglected and being taken advantage of. None of this was true, but this was the story he believed. As Christians who are part of a church family, we do work- caring for the building, caring for one another, doing ministries and missions, and more. That work, however, is regarded as serving- giving back in response to God’s love and grace in our lives. Pray about any times when you may have felt like the older brother when serving at church. What prompted those feelings? Has there been repentance, forgiveness, healing, and a restoration of joy? Why or why not? Ask God what you are being called to do- ways to serve, attitudes in serving, relationships with others while serving.

Friday: Both sons struggled with forgiveness. The younger son had a difficult time receiving the forgiveness of his Father, assuming he was unworthy. The older brother had a hard time forgiving. He carried unforgiveness in his heart, which translated to anger, resentment, and bitterness. Which of the two sons do you relate to most? Why? Consider why forgiveness can sometimes be difficult. Ask God to reveal to you where, and possible with whom, your heart needs to soften, and ask God to empower you to live into the forgiveness that is needed and offered.

Saturday: The Father said to the older brother, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” Take a moment and reflect on that. Everything- what do you believe “everything’ entails? Why? Do you believe that you are accessing everything that God is offering to you? Why or why not? Pray about areas where you may be able to experience even more of what God has to offer his children. Is there anything that God is asking you to change or do in order to receive more?

The Scripture this week was supplemented by other Scriptures, used in the Call to Worship, about being children of God and heirs. These were Romans 8:14-17, Galatians 4:6-7, and 1 John 3:1a. Take some time to reflect on these verses. How does knowing you are a child of God feel? What do you think that means? Ask God how you can fully live into the fullness of that identity in Christ.

Romans 8:14-17

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.  And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Galatians 4:6-7

6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

1 John 3:1a

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!