Daily Encouragement

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Monday, February 10, 2025

Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church in southern Lancaster County established in the early 1700's.

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Younger Son's
Rebellion"}}

Message summary: Today let's muse on why the prodigal son left his father's house in the first place. What was the motivation for his rebellion? Perhaps it began with boredom.

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“There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything" (Luke 15:11-16).

The younger son demands his inheritance early, effectively wishing his father were dead. This act symbolizes rebellion, selfishness, and a desire to live independently, which reflects human tendency to seek autonomy from God.

The focus of the prodigal son parable is the father's readiness to forgive his wayward son.

However today let's muse on why he left his father's house in the first place. What was the motivation for his rebellion? Perhaps it began with boredom. That brings to mind an experience Brooksyne had years ago.

Each fall Brooksyne makes a presentation in various locations about the Pilgrims voyage on the Mayflower. She has done this since the mid-nineties when she presented historically accurate information about the pilgrims, including their spiritual faith, to public school elementary students in Massachusetts.

For nearly 30 years she has presented the story in senior facilities, to church groups and Christian schools. Once she shared "The Mayflower Voyage" at the Willow Valley Retirement Community speaking not only to seniors but also the pre-school children as well.

She asked the pre-schoolers, "Why do you suppose the Pilgrims left England to come to America?" One little girl responded, "Because they were bored".

You never know what kind of response you will get when asking children questions. Much to the surprise of the preschool leader and Brooksyne, one little boy accurately responded, "Because the king was mean to them". As most of our readers know they were fleeing persecution and seeking freedom to practice their faith.

But let's consider the first little girl's answer today. To a child in our age growing up with all the modern day hi tech, media entertainment, along with the bells and whistles of life at that time probably would seem boring! But of course no matter how much stuff we have access to, still the children, teens and adults, get bored.

Back to the rebellious son. Think about it. He, like so many, thought the grass was surely greener on the other side. Was he bored in his father's house doing the same chores day after day after day? The only time frame specified is the "not many days" from the dividing of the property to the son's departure. He apparently had a plan.

Bluntly it seems to me some type of boredom is very often a cause for rebellion! He "took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living". This represents sin. I wonder how long he found pleasure in foolish and wasteful living? The text doesn’t specify but in real life it varies.

“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay”. *

Be encouraged today! Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, we consider the prodigal son who did not foresee a famine in his future but rather foolishly imagined his future to be an endless time of eating, drinking and merriment. Such pleasures lasted only a short season before reality set in. The son humbled himself and acknowledged that there is no pleasurable substitute for a loving Father who loved him unconditionally and provided for his every need. Lord, help us when we get to thinking or acting like the wayward son, doing things our way even when they do not honor You. Help us to remember that You do not turn Your back but You extend Your loving arms welcoming us like a hen safely gathers her chicks under her wings. Thank You for Your everlasting love. Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

Yesterday I taught this lesson in our Crossroads Adult Bible Fellowship class that meets at 11:00 am following the worship service we attend. Our pastor's message yesterday morning was on the choice between rash decisions that have bad consequences and a decision to obey resulting in God's blessing. I told the class it was too bad the younger son hadn't heard a message like this before he rebelled. But perhaps he had. People don't always listen. Here's the service cued to two songs we sang prior to the message Watch on YouTube

* It is interesting where this quote comes from: "Further than you want to go"

Here's the entire parable from Luke 15:11-32

Last night I picked up Amish youth from their Sunday evening youth group: three separate stops beginning at 10:30 driving over 100 miles through some of the most rural areas of Lancaster County. I finally got home at 1:00 AM. The roads were crowded with horse and buggy traffic as the youth returned to their homes. Those who live at a distance use an "English" driver like me. If they are dating the boy takes the girl home. In the photo above this couple was having trouble getting started since the horse kept rearing up! They were still waiting when I left.

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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.

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