The Prodigal God: Part 4 (Luke 15:25-30)

Hello All,

Just to recap on the sequence of events which have unfolded in this parable:

·         The younger son demanded a share of his father’s property even while his father was still alive, left home and plunged himself into wild living in search for excitement and meaning in life.

·         After splurging all he had on wild living, famine struck and he was reduced to a feeder of pigs when he decided to return to his father who welcomed him with open arms.

·         The younger son was reinstated into the family and a big feast and celebration was held for his return.

So the parable continues…

The Prodigal God: Part 4 (Luke 15:25-30)

By Joanne Liaw Sook Ling (20^th June 2012)

The story continues with the older son

Heading back from the fields, much work he has done

The sound of music and dancing caught his ears

He quickened his pace towards home and drew near

Startled, he asked a servant what this meant

‘Your father is celebrating the event

Of your brother who has come home safe and sound

For he was once lost but now he is found’.

His heart was consumed with bitter anger

He stayed outside, his house he would not enter

His father came out and entreated him

To set aside his differences and come in.

His father’s gentle pleading fell on deaf ears

‘Look, I have served you these many years

I have never disobeyed your commands!

But you killed the fattened calf for this son

Of yours who has done so much wrong

And spent your wealth on wine, women and song!

Yet a young goat you could not even spare

For me to celebrate with my friends!’

TO BE CONTINUED…..

Points for Reflection:

Like the older son in this parable,

·         Do you have a tendency of comparing yourself with other ‘weaker’ Christians and feel indignant and superior over them?

·         Do you rejoice when backsliden Christians return to God or do you feel they are unworthy of God’s forgiveness due to past sins?

·          Are you doing Christian works out of obligation instead of doing it in response to God’s grace and love?

·          If you are able to identify with the older son now or perhaps in the past, why not ask God to help you rejoice when backsliden Christians return to him?

·         To take it a step further, why don’t you start being proactive in encouraging those who have left God to come home? It could be someone who used to attend the same church as you do, perhaps a friend or even your family? I’m sure the faces of those people are emerging in your minds right now so why don’t you take a moment to pray for them and after that think of ways which you can exhort them to return to our heavenly Father? 

Heavenly Hope

Hello All,

Today we will be taking a break from 'The Prodigal God' poem series which would be resumed the following week.

We are going to look at a topic which most Asian cultures would consider a conversational taboo.

Death is a reality that each and every one of us must face and yet it seems so distant and abstract until it takes away a loved one, a relative, a friend or an acquaintance.

Today’s poem is dedicated to my cousin brother, Richard Khaw, who passed away from brain tumour on 17^th April 2013.

Heavenly Hope

By Joanne Liaw Sook Ling (18^th April 2013)

Dedicated to my cousin, Richard Khaw, who has gone home to the Lord on 17^th April 2013

He has passed from this world and is now with the Lord

The race he has finished, he now claims his reward

Of eternal life, the deposit guarantee

Of every child of God for all eternity

His courageous fight of faith was commendable

God has been sustaining him in all his battles

His loved ones in Christ strengthened him in his struggles

Throughout his prolonged illness, his faith grew stronger

For now we mourn for his death but not without hope

We pray for God's comfort to help his loved ones cope

He has departed and left to a better place

There will be a day when we'll see him face to face

Points for Reflection:

For to me [Apostle Paul] to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

He [God] will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

·         The most comforting truth about being a Christian is we do not have to fear death.

·         For those whom God has chosen as his beloved children have been saved by Christ’s atoning death on the cross and are guaranteed an inheritance of eternal life in heaven.

·         Do you fear death? If you have received Jesus as your Lord and Saviour then you do not need to fear death anymore.

·         Have you grieved or witnessed others mourning for the death of a fellow Christian? It is painful to lose someone you care about and there will be a period of grief. But we grieve with a deep-seated sense of joy and hope knowing that our loved ones have gone to heaven, a place with no more pain or suffering.

 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)

·         While we are living on this earth, our ultimate goal in life should not comprise worldly pursuits and ambitions but it should be on the heavenly hope which God has predestined for us.

·         We are to live for the glory of God and love others as Christ first loved us.

·         Throughout my cousin’s battles with brain tumour, he never ceased trusting in God and his eyes were always fixed on the hope that he had in Christ.

·         Do you have loved ones or friends who are struggling with terminal illnesses and are finding it hard to continue trusting in God? If so, why don’t you regularly encourage them to fix their eyes on the prize and remember them in your prayers?

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me [Jesus Christ]. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? (John 14:1-2)

The Prodigal God: Part 3 (Luke 15:21-24)

Hello All,

Just to recap on the sequence of events which have unfolded in this parable:

·         The younger son demanded a share of his father’s property even while his father was still alive, left home and plunged himself into wild living in search for excitement and meaning in life.

·         After splurging all he had on wild living, famine struck and he was reduced to a feeder of pigs when he decided to return to his father who welcomed him with open arms.

So the parable continues…

The Prodigal God: Part 3 (Luke 15:21-24)

By Joanne Liaw Sook Ling (20^th June 2012)

He began reciting his lines that were well-thought through:

‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.

I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

His speech was halted before it had barely begun.

His father was overjoyed at his return

And called for a big feast and celebration

Replaced his filthy rags with robes of splendor

And placed a ring of sonship on his finger

TO BE CONTINUED…..

Points for Reflection:

Like the younger son in this parable,

·        As you return home to our heavenly Father, do you feel that your past sins have made you no longer worthy to be called a child of God anymore and you must do many good works to atone for them? If you do, you need not let the guilt of past weigh you down for Christ’s death on the cross has erased them all.

·         Upon coming home to our heavenly Father, we are given a fresh start and a new identity as his beloved children.  We are called to forsake our old life and live a new life of loving obedience to him. Do you find a struggle within yourself to forsake certain sinful habits of that old life? If so, take comfort in the fact that God has given us his Holy Spirit to help us to turn day by day from our old ways. That does not mean that we will turn perfect overnight but it is a gradual process of renewal which requires us to cooperate and work hand-in-hand with God. 

The Prodigal God: Part 2 (Luke 15:14-20)

Hello All,

Welcome back to W.E.M.B.

It’s a beginning of a fresh week and each day ushers in unexpected as well as anticipated hurdles and challenges.

But we can find solace each time we unburden the problems, worries and sadness of our hearts to our loving heavenly Father 

Last week we saw the younger son demanded a share of his father’s property even while his father was still alive, left home and plunged himself into wild living in search for excitement and meaning in life.

So the parable continues…

The Prodigal God: Part 2 (Luke 15:14-20)

By Joanne Liaw Sook Ling (20^th June 2012)

Having spent all he had when famine struck

Friends deserted him as he ran out of luck

No one would spare him a morsel of bread

Not even the pods of the pigs he fed

Famished, he finally came to his senses

He decided to return home repentant

He would pay his father back for damages

By offering himself as a hired servant

Ashamed of his filth and tattered clothes

He journeyed home with his head bowed low

He rehearsed the lines of his new role

As a servant of his father’s household

His father saw him from a distance

And ran towards him with no hesitance

Enveloped him with a loving embrace

And welcomed him with a kiss on his face

TO BE CONTINUED…..

Points for Reflection:

Like the younger son in this parable,

·         Have you sought fulfillment in worldly pleasures, ambitions and even relationships only to find that all things, without our heavenly Father in the picture, leave you feeling empty?

·         After the thrill for the moment evaporates, do you try to fill that void with perhaps something more exciting only to find your spiritual life impoverished?

·         Are you at the crossroads of your life (or could you recall a time), where you are confronted with the dilemmas, uncertainties, disappointments and brokenness of your circumstances?

·         When this life has left you empty, broken and wanting, have you made a U-turn to return to God?

·        As you start to turnaround and head home to our heavenly Father, do you feel that your past sins have made you unworthy of God’s grace and you are no longer fit to be called a child of God anymore?

·        If you have not made that U-turn, why don’t you do so now? Our heavenly Father is yearning for our return and will welcome us with open arms.