|
"I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.'"
(Luke 15:18)
Yesterday close to 200 million Americans watched the 60th Super Bowl. While both teams had great seasons, only one could obtain the NFL's highest prize of being world champions in football. While the Patriots played hard, the Seahawks came away with the victory. I think part of the reason is the Seahawks mastered the basics or the fundamentals of football better than their opponents, the Patriots. They did these all very well: blocked, tackled, caught passes, etc., and the result was a win.
I really enjoy football on all levels. From Pee Wee to Middle and High School, to college to the pros, it is my favorite sport. I played in high school and even had a small stint playing in college. With my size, I probably had no business playing. I was hit so hard a couple times in college games that my world was spinning! But I could do one thing well, and that is what inspired me to keep playing. That one thing was hitting people. I know that sounds strange from a pastor, but I loved to hit guys and take them down if they were carrying the ball.
The Christian life is like this. No, not with hitting people and taking them to the ground! I am talking about focusing on the fundamentals of our faith and how we can never drift far from the basics or we get in trouble. There is safety in staying close to the shore, especially if you are in the ocean with only a kayak and a couple inflatable paddleboards. A mom and her three children drifted too far from the shore in Australia and found themselves in a difficult way with the waves pulling them further from shore. Austin Allelbee, the 13-year-old-son, heroically swam for 4 hours and covered over 2 miles! He tried using the paddleboard but felt it was slowing him down. He also ditched his life jacket for the same reason. Austin was determined to get to the shore and ask for help for his family. His family had drifted about 10 miles, but because of Austin's successful swim, they were rescued as they hung on to their small boats. ( Source.)
In the Christian faith, our great God is that safe shore to whom we stay close, tethered, and connected. If we neglect spending time with God, we too will drift. When we do not read the Bible, pray, and stay in community with other believers, we begin to drift.
Perhaps you have been drifting from God. God is always ready to receive you back to intimacy with Him if you only return. How do you return to God? That is the topic of our devotions this week as we glean insights from Jesus' famous Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15.
Join us tomorrow as we dive into this wonderful parable from our Lord and Savior! |
Apple
Spotify
Deezer
YouTube
