Watching the Horizon

Hope - Week One - Wednesday

"Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. 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. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men”. 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." Luke 15:11-20

One story that perhaps shows the greatest contrast in waiting is the prodigal son. We see first a young man who was unwilling to wait. He wanted the money that his father would eventually give to him and he wanted it now. No doubt this father saw a son who lacked the maturity to handle such a responsibility. Perhaps he had a conversation with him and told him why he should wait but for whatever reason dear old Dad handed over one-third of the family bank account, no strings attached. Then this son, this impulsive son who simply could not wait, packed up and headed out for a life of pleasure he thought his money would buy. And so begins the waiting of a loving father. This father likely watched the horizon for the return of his son daily. He continued his life, the daily grind, doing the things he needed to do but his heart yearned to see that son top the hill on his way back home. Likely the son’s exit plan told dad that he wasn’t making good choices. Certainly dad knew that his son wasn’t living a life that he would be proud of but Dad kept watching that horizon, waiting for the day his son would come home. And finally, one day, as dad peered across that road where he had scanned daily, a skinnier, dirtier, humbled young man did top that horizon. His arrogant strut was replaced by the posture of shame. He was coming home to ask if he could work for his father as a hired hand. He was nervous…embarrassed…scared. But after all that waiting when Dad saw him coming home he didn’t care that he looked different, he didn’t care that he had lost everything. He didn’t care that he smelled like pig. He cared only that his son had come home.

Who do we want to be like when our story is told? The impulsive son who could not wait for the best from his father? Or the loving father who waited, expectantly, hopefully, eagerly for the answer to the deepest yearning in his heart? Let us take time this season to reflect that hope and eager anticipation of waiting for God’s very best for our lives.

Family Activity

Give each family member a piece of paper and allow them to write down their thoughts about what God might have for their future. After writing down these things and any areas you see God working in each person, roll each one up like a scroll and tie a ribbon around them. Hang these on the Christmas tree as a reminder of God's purpose for each person's life. Next year it will be fun to see how God has moved in that area or given you a clearer vision for what He has for you.