Deb on the run

Jan. 11, 2007

"'I wanted to be free,' says the prodigal son to himself - perhaps he cries it aloud, 'I wanted to become myself; and I thought I would get all this by cutting myself from my father and my roots, fool that I am! I have found nothing but chains.' And bitter laughter goes up from the pigsty.

That he should have wanted to separate himself from his father now seems just as ridiculous as that a person should fret over being dependent on air and then hold his breath, in order to assert his freedom. We cannot with impunity - actually, without being utterly foolish - separate ourselves from the element in which we live and have our being. We can't take God off as we would take off a shirt.....

The repentance of the lost son is therefore not something merely negative. In the last analysis it is not merely disgust; it is above all homesickness; not just turning away from something, but turning back home. Whenever the New Testament speaks of repentance, always the great joy is in the background. It does not say, 'Repent or hell will swallow you up,' but 'Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" (emphasis mine)

The Waiting Father by Helmut Thielicke
pg. 26

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Jan. 11, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

That was a great passage! Thanks for sharing it! :)

Laura
www.swankmom.com

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Jan. 11, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by AcceptanceWithJoy

Ray Comfort teaches that pointing someone to Hell is the worst way to convert them. He points out, especially with children, he can get almost 100% decisions for Christ if he starts with a description of Hell and then asks the kids, "Who wants Jesus to save you from this?

True salvation always is accompanied by repentence. Marissa and I were reading Acts 8 today. I was surprised to read about Philip's work with in Samaria. Verse 12 tells us that they believed what he said about the coming kingdom and the name of Jesus, but these people didn't receive the Holy Spirit until Peter and John came down and laid hands on them.

I don't know what to make of this scripture, but your entry today caused me to stop and think. In a way, it parallels my life. I was raised in a Christian home and "knew" Jesus. Was my salvation based only on a desire to escape judgment?

Thanks for blogging ~

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Jan. 12, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

Thanks for sharing!

Michelle
moment-of-choice.blogspot.com

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Jan. 13, 2007 - Untitled Comment