Make me as one of thy hired servants
"The prodigal son asked for hired service because he was sick of freedom.
There had been a time when freedom was the only thing he wanted.
The desire of it had led him away from his home to the far land.
The routine of home, the tediousness of that dull person his elder brother,
the restraint of a younger son living in his father's house-
these had become intolerable to his young blood.
He heard the call of the sparkling world beyond the horizon of the homestead.
There a man might live without restrictions and go as he pleased.
He went, a lad light-hearted and easily seduced.
He found his freedom, and did what he liked.
Soon all his guidance of his affairs was gone, and he was whirled along in a rush of pleasures,
the mere sport of circumstances and of lusts.
Freedom is a noble thing, if it be accompanied by a clear mind and a powerful will that keeps its self control.
So this prodigal son had claimed his freedom before he was capable of managing it.
And it utterly wrecked his life.
Now he is, as well may be, afraid of it.
Afraid to trust himself.
He genuinely and ardently longs for someone to control him, and its this change of heart that redeems the incident.
This then is the mood of the returning prodigal who has his speech prepared for the meeting of his father. But that speech was never uttered.
When father and son have met there is no longer any word of hired servants. Fear, shame, distrust of self, the burden of responsibility, are all swallowed up in love.
One sight of the father's face, the great embrace of the beloved arm thrown around his rags,
the tears that fall upon his neck,
these settle all the problems which in cold blood we settle otherwise.
Self distrust even has passed, for love has found a natural and happy solution.
No hard responsibilities, no unbearable lonely freedom is give to us to manage rightly.
For the father is there, and we have learned at last to love him.
And that love has become a far more commanding law than hired service can ever know.
But God insists, He will give no external law written on tables of stone.
He will write His laws on our hearts.
He will not call us servants even in answers to our prayers.
He has called us friends and sons of His household,
and He will not consent to any less honorable relation.
But the love that Christ brings and reveals makes all the difference.
That love is indeed fulfilling the law,
as all who are laboring and heavy laden may discover.
Love changes the look and feeling of all things.
Go about your daily duties, your readings, your praying, assuming that you are God's child, acting in all things as if you were.
He will make it right.
He IS making it all right.
You are incapable and helpless...
Like Augustine 'Take me Lord, for I cannot give myself
Keep me Lord, for I cannot keep myself'. "
