Desiring a Connection
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his
arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
And furthermore, God has elected to do a majority of his work through us. We are called to be God’s hands and feet, reflecting Jesus to those around us. There’s truth in the saying that “sometimes we may be the only “Jesus” some people ever witness.” Not because of what we do, but because of what God does through us.
That’s why something in Jarrod’s sermon on Sunday really stood out to me. The story of the prodigal son is one of the most well-known and important parables in scripture. I’ve heard it hundreds of times, but I was really drawn to the conversation between the father and the brother. The brother attempts to distance himself from his sibling, while the father literally runs to him and greets him with open arms.
How are we approaching those around us? Are we like the brother, ignoring the opportunity to welcome our Christian brothers and sisters into our family? Or are we the father, literally running towards others as a response to God’s pursuit of us?
How are we approaching those around us? Are we like the brother, ignoring the opportunity to welcome our Christian brothers and sisters into our family? Or are we the father, literally running towards others as a response to God’s pursuit of us?
We have that opportunity in our community, Revive, to reconnect forgotten relationships. Amongst ourselves, we can deepen and cultivate both new and old friendships. There can be more that connects us beyond the location we choose to worship; we can commit to live life together.
But there is also hope we can reconnect with those who have intentionally or unintentionally rejected, and have been rejected by, the Christian church. Those who do live amongst us in our physical Arlington community, but have not been invited into our spiritual community. There are plenty of people inside and outside our walls who long for deeper, personal relationships. People who need the grace and mercy which is evident in human interaction. People who may only witness the love of Jesus through a community like us.
God has pursued a relationship with us. How will we respond?
-Zach Graves
Hey! My name is Zach Graves and I am a 24 year old, newly married, proud UTA alum. I have been going to First Arlington for about 4 years and am a transportation civil engineer (whatever that means). As it pertains to the Dallas Cowboys, I remain cautiously optimistic.
But there is also hope we can reconnect with those who have intentionally or unintentionally rejected, and have been rejected by, the Christian church. Those who do live amongst us in our physical Arlington community, but have not been invited into our spiritual community. There are plenty of people inside and outside our walls who long for deeper, personal relationships. People who need the grace and mercy which is evident in human interaction. People who may only witness the love of Jesus through a community like us.
God has pursued a relationship with us. How will we respond?
-Zach Graves
Hey! My name is Zach Graves and I am a 24 year old, newly married, proud UTA alum. I have been going to First Arlington for about 4 years and am a transportation civil engineer (whatever that means). As it pertains to the Dallas Cowboys, I remain cautiously optimistic.
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