LEFTOVERS
Are They Being Wasted?
~ He is the God Who salvages all things and allows nothing to go to waste ~
January 4th, 2023
the PRODIGAL
Luke 15:17-24, ‘”…That brought him to his senses. He said, ‘All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death. I’m going back to my father. I’ll say to him, Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.’ He got right up and went home to his father. When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: ‘Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son ever again.’ But the father wasn’t listening. He was calling to the servants, ‘Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a prize-winning heifer and roast it. We’re going to feast! We’re going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!’” (MSG)
We have a Father Who will not only accept us back and take us in, but He will come running out to meet us. He will embrace us, clothe us and feed us, even when we limp down the broken, dusty road, after a life of debauchery and loss and infidelity toward Him. Even when we step out on Him, flirt with the enemy, commit affairs of the soul with the world and cheat on our First Love, He woos us back to His heart, cleans up our mistakes and wipes the slate clean. He does not waste any opportunity when our spirit is battered and our lives are broken, to care for us, to use what the enemy of our soul meant for harm instead for our good. What a patient and kind, gentle and loving Father, to wait patiently and faithfully for us to come to the end of our own selves and leave the leftovers to Him to reclaim. He is the Restorer of all things and redeems our messiness from a miry pit so we can stand again on a higher ground and with a new word on our lips. He is a good, good God!
John 6:12-13, ‘When the people had eaten their fill, He said to His disciples, “Gather the LEFTOVERS so nothing is wasted.” They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with LEFTOVERS from the barley loaves.’ (MSG)
