Advent Lutheran Church

"God Says, I AM"

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him.  ² And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."  ³ So he told them this parable: "There was a man who had two sons.  ¹² The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them.  ¹³ A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.

 ¹⁴ When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need.  ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs.  ¹⁶ He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything.  ¹⁷ But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger!  ¹⁸ I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;  ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."'

²⁰ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.  ²¹ Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'  ²² But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe-- the best one-- and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  ²³ And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;  ²⁴ for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate.

²⁵ "Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.  ²⁶ He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on.  ²⁷ He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.'  ²⁸ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him.  ²⁹ But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends.  ³⁰ But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!'  ³¹ Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.  ³² But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'" 

But God says, “I AM”
The Prodigal Son wandered off deciding to live it up and be in charge of his life.  Think about all that he missed by being away from his home.  He takes his money; leaves; and goes from big time living to feeding the lowly pigs.  What a revelation he finally comes to, “I am no longer in control of my life, I need to go home.”  Will his father receive him back?
When we wander off on our own, we are wasting God’s blessings; we ignore his love and forgiveness.  We wander off into our casual/or frantic way of living, failing to connect, communicate or remember God’s love and His promises.  We can have such peace of mind and comfort when we live in fellowship with Him.  We are so confident in making our own decisions that it blinds us to all the blessings of God.  It is indeed God who gives us strength, wisdom and knowledge that guides us in our daily living.  On our own, we begin to think, “I am me and in control.”  But God says, “I AM”.

In the ELW hymn #606, we sing about the Prodigal Son.  The first verse starts out with ‘Our Father, we have wandered and hidden from your face.”  Let’s put ourselves in this song and story by way of a prayer.

Our Father we have wandered and have lost sight of you
Our own forgetfulness obscures your legacy of Grace
And now in casual living we rely on our own control.
How fast we stray without daily fellowship with you.

We come to see our lack of wisdom, knowledge and love,
and now at length we discern the evil that we’ve done.
We have ignored God’s love and forgiveness.
Grant us now the ability to hear Him call our name.

Bring us back to remember the peace of mind, love
and compassion that is freely given for all.
We ask that now our transgression may be forgotten.
Stretch out your hand to bless and pardon us.
Amen.