Remembering AHA

Some of us do not need to come home to the Father through the Son...at least not for the first time. Our first time coming home was years ago. Maybe it was five, ten, twenty, or even fifty years ago when you first professed Jesus as the Christ and your personal Savior. You remember going down into the waters of baptism and washing your sins away. Ever since then, you have tried your best to walk together with God. Some times were better than others, but, for the most part, you've stayed "home" and done the will of the Father.

Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. "Your brother has come," he replied, "and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound." The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 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. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!" (Luke 15:25-30 NIV)

It's easy to get angry with the Father when we feel like we are going through struggles we don't deserve. After all, we've been living at home all these years. We've been doing the Father's will. We've obeyed His commands. Why is it still so hard? Why doesn't He cut us a break? Not only that, He owns everything and squanders it on a party for someone who blew all their money? What's up with that?

When we get angry at God, it drives a wedge between us and God. When we get angry at people it drives a wedge between us and our neighbor. Remember God's greatest desire for our lives:

Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' (Matthew 22:37-39 NIV)

What about you? Do you find yourself listening to words in your own mind that separate you from God? Do you allow the same kind of thoughts to turn you against your neighbor? Have you forgotten that you, too, had an AHA experience where you came home?  Will you celebrate with the younger son?