Hearing, Seeing and Doing...

The story of the Prodigal Son is a profound story of extravagant love, grace and forgiveness of the father to the wayward son who squanders his wealth and finds his way back home. The son leaves home thinking "out there" he is going to find success and fulfillment. He discovers that after the initial thrill, he is lost, wasted and starving and longs to return to the father's house where even the servants had plenty. The contrast is stark - away from the Father there is lack, suffering and deprivation while at the Father's house there is abundance, joy and celebration!
Luke 15:22
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. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Hearing..
Jesus is our Good Shepherd and He says that His sheep hear His voice (John 10:27). It is really important that we stay close to Jesus to hear His voice and don't wander off thinking that there is something better "out there". Jesus has come so that we can have life and have it in abundance!

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

God's plans, purposes and intentions for us are the best and it is all experienced in the Father's house! So are you close to Jesus that you are hearing His voice and not wandering "out there"?

Seeing..
The future is not ahead of us, it lies within each of us as we begin to see things as God sees us. The vision you see today should lead to the decisions and actions we take and these create the future.

Ephesians 1: 18- 19

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength. 

Vision is the key to our future. What glimpses of the future does the eyes of your heart see? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal this to you.

Doing..
We are made for greatness and significance. Real greatness comes from serving others. The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in serving others. Martin Luther King said, Life’s most persistent and urgent question is “What are you doing for others?”. Everybody can be great because anybody can serve.” Jesus’ words were the same, encouraging us to serve others.

1 Peter 4:10 – Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in it’s various forms.
Matthew 20:26 – 28: Whoever wants to be great among you must become your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.

Serving is a hall mark of a disciple and it takes many forms. What are your forms of serving others? What are you doing every day to live out the greatness and significance?

As we go about our lives, let’s be careful about that we are hearing God’s voice, seeing the vision that God has for us and doing what He has called us to do so that we can truly live out our destiny!