A STRANGE ENDING

(Transcribed from actual tape)
#463 July 21, 1985 - AM



A STRANGE ENDING
Luke 15:25-32

Let's go to the Lord in prayer together. "Father, we thank You for the

privilege of being in this Thy house. Give to us hearts that are open,

minds that are sensitive. Give to us ears that are ready to receive and

record your fresh word for us in this hour. Those who are fatigued, give

them a new surge of energy. Those who are restless, give them an unusual

amount of concentration. Oh, Lord, may we center our thoughts and our

praise and everything about us upon Thee as you deal with us individually,

as You cleanse us collectively, as You is inspire us as a body of believers.

Lord, You speak. Let me get out of the way so that Thy word and Thy holy

and divine message might not only be heard, but may it be received and

understood and incorporated into our living. For we make this prayer through

Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen."

I hope you already have your Bibles open to Luke, Chapter Number 15. We've
been studying this chapter, and especially during recent weeks, focusing
upon the prodigal son. And then that 24th Verse of Luke 15 reads:
"For this my son was dead and t& alive aga-in.
He was lost and is found. And they began to be
merry."
I wish we could end the chapter right there. Everybody loves a happy ending.
But we need to know that Jesus was too closely related to real life. He
understood that everything does not have a happy ending, that every true
-2-


life story is not like a fairy tale. And so then he begins to finish the

rest of the parable. And as he finishes it, I think many of us will see

in these final verses, I think we'll see perhaps pathetically or tragically

ourselve ...

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