Kingdom News: A remarkable return

Shalom to every reader. With the words of Jesus, I want to encourage you as we are going to share a moment together.

Especially also for the youth of the day, I pray that you will take the necessary time to let this Word find its way into your deepest being.

Looking at life and understanding a little about mankind, I have come to the realisation that all mankind experience a season of rebellion.

This season may differ from person to person. However, there is a generation or let me rather say an age group who seem to be the most vulnerable to this temptation.

It has become the norm to argue with yourself and ultimately with those in authority that you are mature enough to make your own decisions and do your own thing. You literally question the very people who are supposed to guide you through life. There is nothing wrong with that. However, if it results in you losing your dignity and ultimately your way, then something needs to be done.

The present generation of youth specifically concerns me much. Let me start by sharing with you the first of three scriptures I believe the Holy Spirit wants us to seriously meditate on for this conversation.

In Exodus 20:20 (O.T.) and let me use Ephesians 6:1(N.T.) we read/learn about a principle (commandment) God gave children and that is to honour and respect their parents. Needless to mention that according to scripture, if you will obey and honour and or respect your parents, God offers a promise (blessing).

Exodus 20:12 NIV
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Ephesians 6:1-3 NIV
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—
3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
Listen to me today dearest youngster, elder don’t you forget this. In these very short scriptures my humble opinion is cemented about a golden key that God puts in our hands. Apply this key principle and you will never have to look back or regret any day of your life.
With this just my second key scripture in this conversation. In Psalm 1, we discover the key to success, just in a different way

Psalm 1:1-3 NIV
1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

Read it slowly and meditate what God’s Word is saying to you and me. Don’t we all want to be blessed and successful? These three verses explain it all.
My final scripture/conclusion today is Luke 15…

Luke 15:11-32 NIV. The parable of the lost son.
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.’ 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.”

Read, meditate God’s Word. In my introduction I mentioned that we all end up being lost at some stage of our lives, and yes, it differs from person to person. However, this young man, realises his mistake, decided to do something about it and he was greatly rewarded. He was totally restored.

What is my word of encouragement to you and me today.

Especially also since we are in Youth month. Let us do the one good thing that we have postponed for you know how long. Say to yourself,” 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.”

Then finally, do what this young man did,” 20 So he got up and went to his father.

Finally, experience what this young man, this lost son, this prodigal experienced, “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. (By Pastor Willie Coetzee)