Consider the story of the Prodigal Son. But focus on the Prodigal Father because he was the One who exhibited this extraordinary response of grace and compassion and kindness. Remember that the son had a speech prepared that he had no expectation that his father would welcome him back as a son but would be willing to work as one of his father’s servants if he would have him back. Of course the father would have none of that and welcomed his son back and threw a party for him. The implication here is that he would be welcomed back into the house and would not be living or working as one of the servants.
Is it possible that we, who are depicted here as the returning son, are still living in the bunkhouse as a servant even though we have been invited to live as sons and daughters of the father in the main house?
As followers of Jesus we often concentrate a lot of our energy on getting “into” the kingdom, into Christ, and then “find ourselves an ottoman, get a drink and check out what’s on cable.” Not the Religious Type, Dave Schmelzer 2008 p165
We feel that it is our duty to go to church as often as we can. Sometimes it means getting some tasks at the church and doing our duty there. Sometimes we feel that it is our duty to give some money there too.
I’m not sure about you but while I’ve had some fun, I haven’t found much lasting joy that way. At least if I do my duty then I won’t have to feel guilty with God. At least I know that I’m “in” with God. I’m in the circle. I believe in Jesus. I know that I have eternal life. But the joy that is supposed to come with that is often elusive.
I don’t want to completely rain on the duty motivation. Many times in my life including this year, duty was all I had that kept me going in the face of tremendous grief. But I’ve also found recently that that is not the place that I’m designed to live.
Am I alone here? Have you all found the joy button and you’re hitting it all the time?
The Apostle, Paul, wrote about this problem even in his day. A chronic problem kept recurring in the early church. They kept returning to the law as source of their faith.
Col 2:13-14 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
Col 2:20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules:
As humans we are constantly looking for the rules. Then we find ourselves rebelling against these rules. Finally, we arrive at a place where we find that rules cannot bring life or joy.
I love Pecan Pie. It has texture, sweetness, and it gives me great pleasure. The rules say that I should eat more vegetables, even broccoli but that doesn’t bring me joy or pleasure.
Where is this lasting, inexhaustible supply that is reported to come with following Jesus? I’ve found a lot of rules and things to do and some great friends. Sometimes I’ve thought to myself, that life was really about following the rules and just surviving without getting hurt too badly until we get the call up to our forever life.
Is it possible that sharing our faith with others could be difficult with this point of view? I’m not sure that I would buy into that program. In fact I think that lots of folks who aren’t yet followers of Jesus may feel more optimistic that I do at times.
So where is this joy? Where is this intrinsic happiness that transcends the events of life?
We have this teaching from Jesus,
Mat 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
He tells us to seek God, to seek His kingdom before all other things. Is it possible in doing this that not only will we have all the material things that we need but that we will have an unlimited well of Joy to draw from as well?
What if it isn’t about being inside or outside as much as it is about seeking God? What if we have all been on a journey toward God or away from God or some erratic pattern in between for our whole lives? Yes our decision to follow Jesus gains us entrance into the Kingdom of God for eternity. We have that on the authority of God’s Word. But is the journey complete there?
Jesus promised abundant life:
Joh 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Abundantly here means “super abundantly” or Superior in Quality.
Are we experiencing this Super Abundant life, Superior in Quality or just life?
David, a “man after God’s own heart” writes this:
Psa 98:4-8 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn— shout for joy before the LORD, the King. Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;
It sounds like he was on to something. He had tremendous adventure in this life, some great sin, and some great grief. But in the midst of all of it he found Joy in the Lord.
In another Psalm he writes that joy is found in the Lord’s presence:
Psa 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
On and on we find David, this man who perhaps understood the Joy of being in the presence of the Lord more than most, claiming a joy and pleasures from the Lord.
This is the shot across our bow: God is not opposed to joy, to happiness, to pleasure. Who knew? In fact He wants us to experience full and complete joy that never runs out.
Is life sweet, full of texture and brings joy?
It is too easy to fall into the ottoman life. To become a follower of Jesus and “tag up” each week at church.
We can also find ourselves involved in outreach and ministry because we believe that we owe God or we feel that these are the rules if we want to belong. Perhaps strangest of all we may even read the Bible because we feel that that is a rule for followers of Jesus.
None of these things are bad but they can be done by the servants who live in the bunkhouse.
Don’t we really want to live in the big house with the compassionate Father who stood on the road looking for us to come home and then threw a party?
Don’t we want to take our meals with Him and learn from Him?
Don’t we want to serve along side of Him as He seeks out others on their journey to Him out of the Joy of just being with Him?
Don’t we want others to come to Him because they can find a well of Joy that never runs dry just as we have?
You What about you?
Have you been living a life of duty? A life of rules?
Is that why you come to church? Have you found joy in that?
Have you wondered if there is more for you?
Would you really like to find a source of real, inexhaustible joy in your life?
Is this something that you want in your life today and from now on?
Are you hungering for more of God and His presence in your life?
Do you think that we could ask God for this?
If that is your desire today, consider doing 3 things to make that happen:
1. Say yes to God today that you want to accept His invitation to move into the house as a son or daughter. If you haven’t become a follower of Jesus yet, this would be a good time.
2. Ask someone to pray for you today that God will draw you closer to him give you this joy today and everyday going forward. In just a moment we will give you an opportunity to get that prayer.
3. Pray or read 5 Psalms from the Bible each day for the month of December. Did you know that 45 Psalms call for joy in the life of the reader? Many of these are connected to joy in the presence of the Lord.
