We just finished our fall series, "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality." I preached the last sermon, which focused on being forgiven and forgiving others. You can watch it at: http://www.gracechico.org/resources/sermons.
One of the exercises for this series was to participate in a "Daily Office" two times a day. A daily office is a short devotional time where you pause before the Lord and refocus on him through the Word and prayer. We used a book called the "Daily Office" for these devotionals, and one of them jumped out at me and needs to be shared. The Scripture reading was the story of the Prodigal Son, found in Luke 15. Here's the devotional commentary that is so good:
"Jesus' description of the father in the famous parable of the prodigal son gives us a glimpse of what it looks like for us to be emotionally mature adults.
The church is full of younger sons who wander from the love of God every time he does not meet their expectations. It is also full of elder brothers who are angry, bitter and grumpy. I know them both well. I relate to both.
Yet people are desperately looking for fathers and mothers in the faith who are able to embrace, love, empathize, be present and forgive freely. It is a love without conditions, something of which the world knows little. To become this kind of person does not come naturally..." ("Daily Office", Peter Scazzero, p119)
This commentary brought fresh eyes to the story of the prodigal son and to those around me. May I be a spiritual father who extends grace to those who are immature on their journey.
And by the way, I heard a story from one of my small group leaders this morning - one of the men in his group practiced the Daily Office three times per day for the past two months, plus began practicing a sabbath day each week. He said he's never felt better, having more peace and less anger, now that he's taking the time to refocus his heart and draw near to Jesus multiple times each day. Praise God!
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