November 9, 2013

"Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!  I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate."  Luke 15:11-24

I believe one of the big obstacles to having a thankful heart is an inability to embrace God's mercy and grace.

What do I mean by that?

Let me illustrate with the familiar story of the Prodigal Son. The Prodigal Son is not grateful at the beginning of the story but becomes thankful and is rejoicing by the end of the story. How does that happen?

Well, to my point, when we first see this young man we see someone who doesn't know how to handle grace or mercy.

First, he abused the graciousness of his father by demanding his inheritance. His father was not obligated to grant this unusual request but he chose to do it because he loved his son.  By doing this he broke tradition and social custom, bringing disgrace to himself and dishonor to his father.

Also, he abused mercy.

How did he abuse mercy?

The inheritance system was set up to protect young people from getting too much wealth and responsibility too soon in their lives. It was a form of mercy.

When you consider how he abused grace and refused mercy to get his own way, you know it is not likely to end well. He was ungrateful in his demand, and he was ungrateful in what he received so how do think he is going to turn out?

Once his demand was met and he got what he wanted from his dad, he took the money and ran! He ran to spend it on wild parties and wild women. unfortunately, when his money ran out so did his friends. Soon he found himself broke and lonely and hungry. He was in a world of hurt scuffling with swine for their scraps.

What if this young man had been grateful in the beginning?

What if he had honored the grace and mercy of his father from the start?

Imagine how much different the story would have been!

A truly thankful heart has learned to receive the mercy and grace of his Father.