Rev. Ray and Pat Amos
I will arise and go to my father…” Luke 15:18
He stood with the congregation as they started to sing. Wanting to slip out of the church, and wanting to stay, was a tug of war in his soul. With fingers gripping the pew he stood there like Peter when he wanted to step out of the boat: “Lord if it is you, If this is real, let me come to you.”
The church kept singing; and Jesus said, “Come!”
“I’ve wandered far away from God,
Now I’m coming home;
The paths of sin too long I’ve trod,
Lord, I’m coming home.
Coming home, coming home,
Nevermore to roam;
Open wide Thine arms of love;
Lord, I’m coming home.”
A young prodigal is sleeping on a hard bed. This world has let him/her down. The promise of pleasure had soon come to an end. Pleasure is always for a brief season, but the joy of the Lord is forever. Prodigals jump out the nest because they know how to fly; they run into trouble because they don’t know where to fly.
Why had he come here to this church by the side of the road? He just wanted to remember the life he forgot; to feel a love that he didn’t have to buy; and for a brief moment he wanted to hope and dream of a life that could be. Tonight he thought about home. It’s funny you know, the place that he ran from is the place where he wants to go. Remembering is the first step back home.
“Dear God in Heaven. Please let our Christian homes leave a good memory; one worth coming back to. Let our churches keep the faith and be true to the Word. May we keep Holy Bread upon the table; and the warmth of love in our hearts. We are praying for the disappointed, hurt, hungry and lost to come back home. We know, Lord, that you are searching; and when you bring a lost lamb back; we want to be ready to rejoice with you.”
“Open wide Thine arms of love; Lord, I’m coming home.”
Grace and Peace, Rev Ray
