As I read these verses, I am reminded of the prodical son who found himself dining with the hogs. At this stage in his life, he needed the words of this passage. Remember the rock from which you were dug. In other words, remember who you are! You are not a hog. You are the son of a father who loves you very much. A father who has plans for you. A father who has a place for you. There are many Christians in our world who suffer from the prodical son syndrome. They wander away from the Father and forget who they are and where they are from. They have forgotten their first love (Rev. 2:4-5) They need to know that God will forgive if they will only ask. A broken and contrite heart the Father will not despise. They need to know that the past is in the past. And that the Father offers complete forgiveness (Psalm 103) and an awesome plan for them (Jer 29:11). And He wants to restore the dry and wasted areas of their life with the refreshing showers of His love and mercy. Just a few thoughts from Texas. RLW
Date: 19 Aug 2002
Time: 16:55:46
RLW--One of our parishioners, in telling stories about his father, recalled that his dad would always say to the boys (as they were about to go out for the night) "Remember who you are." The now 60 year old son spoke gratefully of what a wonderful and formative sentence that was for those teenage years. Aslanclan
Date: 19 Aug 2002
Time: 20:12:18
This is a passage of hope for those who were hewn from good rock. But how to use this passage for those who have come forth from the sewers of life?
Michelle
Date: 19 Aug 2002
Time: 22:23:16
Michelle-A stunning phrase/question.
Is there anything to be found in the phrase, "For the Lord will comfort Zion; he will comfort all her waste places..."?
Aslanclan
Date: 20 Aug 2002
Time: 08:43:32
Yes, Aslanclan, that part does help.
Also, after I posted, I thought more thoroughly, and came to a realization that maybe this text speaks more specifically to the true rock, the rock of the Gospel lesson, the rock of the kingdom of God. Once adopted into (or grafted onto) the family of God, our entire foundation becomes new, as the old self was put to death.
Could get some catechetical stuff out of this one, if I end up going this way.
Michelle
Date: 20 Aug 2002
Time: 15:13:00
Aslanclan:
Each time our church youth group went on an outing, our leader would always say, "Remeber who you are, whose you are, and who you represent." I live by those words daily. I cherish them, even though they are only 30 years old to me.
Steve in NC
Date: 24 Aug 2002
Time: 08:15:49
Perhaps the imperative verbs of this text...Listen, Look, Look, Lift Up and Give Heed, and Listen...could be a good frame for tying together both the gospel's "Who do you say I am?" and the solid, deep rock of God in whom we find who we are? Ponderin' Pastor in IL