Still a Long Way off

This post was previously published at Resound blog By Joey Zorina

“And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).

Still a long way off. 

In the story, the prodigal son came home because he lost everything and needed food and shelter.  Having experienced the consequences of a wayward life, he returned with a ready-made speech.  Our coming to the Father is often with half-hearted repentance.  Like the prodigal, I am “still a long way off” in becoming like Jesus.  I see areas where my sanctification is painfully slow.  I am growing weary of the sin that grows older with me.  Yet “while he was still a long way off, his father saw him.”  

Still, the Father sees.  

We may still be a long way off, but our Father sees us.  What does He see in us?  The Father sees all our flaws, weaknesses, illnesses, grumblings, frustrations, heartaches, guilt, shame, discontentment, disappointments, regrets, wounds, fears and tears.  Yet, His gaze is not one of condemnation.  His eyebrows are not raised.  He is not rolling his eyes—annoyed and ready to scold.  It is not a look of suspicion, wondering if we have ulterior motives for approaching Him.   Upon seeing His returning son, the Father “felt compassion.”  Our Father feels compassion when He sees us stumbling forward.   We don’t have to have the right motives first before we can come to our Father.  

Still, the Father embraces. 

When the Father saw his son He didn’t merely empathize from a distance.   He “ran and embraced him and kissed him.”  The prodigal was eager to run away; but the Father was eager to run to him.  The prodigal was eager to kiss goodbye.  Yet, the Father was eager to embrace him.  Our Father is slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and mercy (Psalm 145: 8).  His love never grows cold even when our hearts grow faint and distant. “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103: 14).   He knows we are dusty, fragile, prone to sin, crack and break.  

Still, a celebration of grace. 

How ironic that those in the Father’s house can also be farthest from Him!  Even the elder brother was “still a long way off.”  Perhaps, he thought he had arrived.   He was quite at home in self-righteous anger—unable to celebrate grace.  It’s easy to talk about God’s grace for our sins while looking down on others who sin differently than us.  Yet, the Father is always ready to entreat us (Luke 15: 31).  His posture is no longer one of wrath but of grace.  Because “God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us”  (Romans 5: 8).   He knows we could never come in our best elements.  While we were still sinners Christ died for us.  

Do you feel you’re “still a long way off” as a church member, parent, child, spouse, leader or pastor?   Do you feel unseen, helpless or under-appreciated?  The Father sees you.  He embraces you in His Son.  He has exchanged your filthy rags with righteous robes.  He sees the righteousness of Jesus.   No whip, but a celebration of grace.  Not a feast of the fattened calf, but of the sacrificial lamb.  Jesus, our true elder brother, bleeds compassion on that cross.   Oh yes, one day we will finally arrive when He returns!  No longer “a long way off.”  Our sanctification will be complete!  It will be face to face, glorified with Him!  Therefore, look at the smiling face of your Father. 

As Richard Baxter, the puritan reformed pastor, once said,

“Think and speak as much about the mercy you have received as you do about the sin you have committed. Similarly, focus as much on the mercy offered as on the mercy you need”

— (Depression, Anxiety, and the Christian Life, pg. 92).

While we were “still a long way off” dead in our sins, Jesus came to lead us home.  A grand feast awaits us on that day (Rev. 19: 6–9).  

Fear Not, Little Flock

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12: 32).  

Do you often feel small, powerless and fearful?  The Bridge Fellowship is a “little flock”—with little influence.  We are few in number and weak with limitations.  We often fear that we might not have enough people or resources.  When first time visitors come, they may be tempted to despise our smallness—-in a marketplace of competition, comparison and consumerism.  

But our great Shepherd does not despise us. He says, “Fear not, little flock.”  We are small but He is great!  He sees us as a “little flock” because we are dear to Him.  Our Shepherd feeds and provides for us (vv. 22-29).  We need not fear of lacking resources or manpower simply because we are “little” in number.  Even the disciples were a “little flock” in comparison to the religious leaders and the powerful Romans.  But it was for His “little flock” that the great Shepherd laid down His life.   

From the earliest of times, God has always worked through little people.  He chose a weak elderly childless couple (Abraham and Sarah) and created the nation of Israel.  He said to the Isrealites, 

“It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set His love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples” (Deut. 7: 7).   

Therefore, we can take comfort and courage that the Lord often chooses the smallest.  He can take our weak church and turn us into trophies of His grace.  He has set His love on us and chosen us, not because we are more in number than other churches.  We might even be among the fewest of the churches in Tokyo.  When we consider the needs of gospel mission in a nation with only about 1 % Christian, it can feel intimidating.   

But Jesus says to us, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”  Though we are little, our Father is pleased to give us the kingdom in which Christ our shepherd King rules.  He has given us a kingdom that cannot be shaken or destroyed.  Just as He used fearful disciples to turn the world upside down, He can take a small church to advance His kingdom.   

Remember Jesus Himself!  Jesus came from Bethlemen of Ephrathah—”the smallest of the clans of Judah” (Luke 2: 5, 7, Micah 5: 2).   His power is displayed in and through little people.  When we pray, “Your kingdom come” (Luke 11: 2) He is advancing His kingdom for His glory.  Therefore, let us not fear because of our smallness.  Fear not, The Bridge Fellowship!  Your heavenly Father is pleased to give you His kingdom. 

With love,

Pastor Joey.Z

Listening To Jesus Daily

Listening To Jesus Daily  |  Luke 10:38-42  

Welcoming Jesus. 

Is Jesus welcome into your house, apartment or room?  When Jesus entered Martha’s village, it says “Martha welcomed Him into her house” (v. 38).   Walking with Jesus starts each day by welcoming Him where we live.  Welcoming Him is being aware of His presence in our homes before we rush off to our phones, emails and to-do-lists.  

But when Jesus came into Martha’s house, it was Mary “who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching” (v. 39).   Are you a good listener?  Clearly, Martha was not a good listener.  While Martha was quick to welcome Jesus, she was too distracted doing for Jesus.

Serving Jesus. 

It says, “40 But Martha was distracted with much serving.”  Our hearts are addicted to distractions and busyness.  It is easy to be so busy for Jesus and miss what Jesus has come to do.  In her distraction, Martha even questioned the caring nature of Jesus.   She said in frustration, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Tell her then to help me.”  Clearly, Martha needed help.  But the help she needed was not merely physical.  It was deeper than what she could see.  Jesus said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things” (v. 41).   We frequently fail to listen even to our own anxious and troubled hearts.   Our anxious and troubled hearts are unable to catch up with our most urgent tasks.  This is why we need to slow down to pause and reflect.

So, while Martha was troubled about “many things” Jesus showed Martha what she was missing. He said to her, “but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (v. 42).   What is the “one thing necessary” that Martha really need?  To sit down at Jesus’ feet and listen to His Word.   This is the good portion that Mary had chosen. 

LEARNING TO LISTEN.

To sit down at Jesus feet is a sign of humility.  It’s a sign of a teachable heart.  Like in any relationship, to grow in relationship with Jesus we must learn to listen well.  We make choices everyday.  We always choose what our hearts desire most.  We must listen to our desires to see if there are desires that compete with Jesus.  We must learn to slow down, sit down to listen to our scattered thoughts.  In humility, we can ask Jesus to bring our hearts to a stand still and wait in silence.   We can welcome Him into our hearts, in our rooms, and thank Him for the new morning mercies for the day.  We can open His Word to listen to what He has to say to our hearts.  Then, we can respond in prayer to what He says.   This is the good portion we can choose each day because Jesus has chosen to enter our lives.

jesus came to serve US.

Remember it was Jesus who came to Mary and Martha’s village. Jesus has chosen to enter our busy hometown and cities affected by sin, chaos, anxieties and troubles.   Martha was busy serving, but Jesus came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10: 45).  When we sit down to listen to His Word, Jesus serves us by speaking into anxious and troubled hearts.  He speaks peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:7).   When Jesus fills our hearts with His own peace, we too can serve others from a place of rest, love, peace and joy!  Serving can come from the overflow of our intimacy with Jesus as we spend time with Him daily. 

Ask yourself:  Do I listen to reply?   Do I listen to speak?  Do I listen to be fully present with Jesus?  Do I listen to understand and know Him?   Do I listen to worship Jesus?  When I listen to sermons do I listen to worship and be changed?  Do I listen to Jesus’ Word—to know Him intimately?  Do I listen to trust and obey Him?   Jesus said, “Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” 

I recommend Daily Light in The Daily Path | Classic Devotional by Samuel Bagster. FREE here.

Pastor Joey.Z