The more things change

A sermon about the prodigal son reminded me that you can never go home again.

I am a new person each day. 

Nothing changes if nothing changes. 

Everything changes. 

What role will I play in my transformation?

 

This is related, from Proverbs 31 Ministries Encouragement for Today: 

 

"When we embrace good things in our lives past the designated time, we smother the goodness and hinder our own growth. When we let go of each season at the right time, we can joyfully celebrate the new season God gives us. .. When we look back, we can be tempted to see only the good. But the truth is, each season has its own trials. These trials are like weights that strengthen our spiritual muscles for future seasons.

"God wants to build our faith through each season. If we want our faith to grow, we can’t stay stuck in the past. We can embrace transitions as they arrive and learn to celebrate the changes."

From Gayle’s sermon “Reckless” on the prodigal son: 

You don’t ever really go home again. Because you change. You are not the same person. 

The relationship with the father is important. So is the relationship with the brother. Related to the Great Commandment. Love — make right relationship with — God (Father) and neighbor (brother). 

Leave old stuff behind so we don’t come back prodigal, wrecked. Come back wreckless, not reckless. 

The difference is the grace. 

We cannot go home without it. 

From 8-31-19 Upper Room:

 Even healthy trees need pruning — cutting away anything that prevents them from producing the best fruit. Jesus tells us that we are like branches that only survive if we remain in him — the true Vine. We all make decisions and have attitudes — fear, disobedience, despair — that hinder us from living into the fullness that God wants for us. But when we ask, God will prune away the old habits and replace them with life-giving ones.