You may heard it said “what we believe determines how we live. What we believe controls our thoughts, our emotions, and our actions.”
Take the parable Jesus told about the younger son who took his inheritance and ran away. Honestly, I have trouble calling it the “Parable of the Prodigal Son.” I want to call it the “Parable of the Loving Father” or “The Good Father.”
Taking that opening statement and applying it to that younger son, we can see it. He believed he didn’t need his father. He didn’t need to be under his wing any longer. So he does what the old song says, “Go on and take your money and run.” He soon found out being on his own wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, especially when things got tough.
But he remembered one thing: his father’s house. His father’s servants had it better than him. So he packed it in and headed home. His belief about his father actually fell a bit short when you think about it. He was sorry for what he did. His father went a step further: he welcomes him home and back into full sonship.
We miss out on much when we forget our loving Father has such a huge heart.
What are your feelings about that opening line?
The opening line is spot on. I believe in facts, evidence, natural laws, and in myself. My beliefs have served me well. I too didn’t need a Father at 17 and moved out and went on my own. It turned out well and my Father, age 85, is ok with the son he raised.
If you didn’t have a Father or had a bad Father I am far luckier than you. And all it is, is luck. I am all about good Fathers. I just don’t understand invisible ones.
I’m certainly with you about invisible fathers Jeff. i can’t understand someone giving birth and then disappearing.
Well…our thoughts and actions are bound to (in) sin.
We believe in a loving gracious God…but we still sin. We are self-lovers at heart.
And therefore are in great need of a Savior…and not a self-help guru.
I am always in need for a great Savior and never a self-help guru. He can do nothing for me.
If we claim that we hold a personal truth or belief but it is not reflected in how we live our lives, then it is little more than a cold, impersonal fact. Only when we embrace that truth or belief do we take ownership.
By the way, why does everyone give the older brother (who stayed by his father) grief about complaining and grumbling when the younger brother came home? I think that his reaction is quite natural, and I would even say, warranted. His younger brother was a thoughtless jerk throughout. In fact, he came home not out of love, but out of need for survival.
First paragraph: very true.
Second paragraph: Quite natural reaction. But I think people see it as selfish and not much different from the brother in motive.
And he’s always waiting with open arms. I hope I can be half the father as that.
Amen and me too! I tend to think you will always be for Annie.
The tag line for my blog is “because focus determines reality.” Where we choose to dwell, physically, mentally and spiritually, will determine the realities of our lives. God’s Word screams this truth. His commandments start with this idea as we are called yo direct our focus on Him. Our attitudes, actions and words come from where our thoughts dwell. The dwelling of our thoughts create our beliefs.
100% totally agree Kari.
That statement is right on the money. I love that story, one of my favorites. I like that it was the dad that spotted his son, as if he’d been watching in expectation for a long time. A wise man who taught a valuable lesson the hard way… for both of them.
that stands out to me also Floyd. I love he was looking for his son…sort of like our Father looks for us.
I’m convinced most people don’t really know what they believe. They make it up as they go.
Sadly, this is way too true.
Hi Bill,
What we believe does determine how we live, I agree. Even though some aspects of our lives don’t always match up, some days, the rumbling of the Holy Spirit in our hearts is the echo of what we believe even then.
What a lavishly loving Father, our God is, huh?
Re your comment on my post “What You Didn’t Know You Knew,” that bike ride sounds wonderful! Enjoy it, and I’m savoring the spring that is coming here now too. I took my youngest on a training wheels bike trip around the neighborhoods this weekend too.
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com‘t Know You Knew,”
I totally agree Jennifer. I am literally blown away with the overwhelming sense of a loving Father. The ride was wonderful. It has been raining her the past couple of days and this morning we had slush on the windshield, but Spring is coming!!
Well your post fed right into what I just posted about our prodigal son who came back to the loving Father. He and his second time wife wrote their testimonies, put it on facebook for all to read. It’s the story about the forgiving, long suffering, always gracious heavenly Father. Good post Bill.
I loved your post Betty (as you can see by my newest one). So glad to hear about Jared’s and Gracies’ marriage. That is exactly the kind of Father we have!!