The Return of Prodigal Son

On Gratitude, from the pages of The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri J.M.Nouwen

True Humility

Begins with self-knowledge

 

How does one gather self knowledge?

By endeavoring to know God first. Then we shall see that it is He that gave us life, preserves us and gave us grace to seek Him, know Him and pursue humility. Then we shall see that He is great and we need Him in all. Then we will know that we are low and He is high. Then we will know that we are sinners and He is perfection. Then we will know that we are (and we will!) to accept His gifts of forgiveness and all His enablement to do anything. Then we will not dwell in our sins and be wrought in our thoughts of how guilty we are – this is focusing on self. It is false humility. If we see ourselves low and He is great – then yes we will take his enablement (help). We know we cannot do it on our own. Start with knowing Him then we will know what we are and where we stand. Then when we take His help, we know we can do great things because it is He who does it.

Followers not Admirers

Let us be followers of Yeshua not just admirers. Many are admirers that think they are followers. The true test will be: Will I stay the course if disappointed? Will I dare confess Christ when others laugh at my claiming that I am Christian?

The follower has to follow the Way. What is the Way? The life of Jesus. Following it from start to finish- it is a state of being and not just knowledge. It is different from knowing eg. “X” did 20 years of research and discovered a medicine that lowers cholesterol levels if taken for 3 months. He writes down the formula. “Y” improves that formula and makes a more effective medicine which lowers cholesterol levels immediately. “Y” built from the formula that “X” discovered “Y” did not have to go through the 20 years of research. He built from “X’s” formula. With Christ His life is the Way. He is the Way. We do not “build” from it. We follow it from day one – His state of being man, in His humiliation right to His crucifixion and to His exaltation. He is the Way.