Inside Story: The Disobedient Son, Part 1
Vitaliano had it made. As an officer in the Cuban military, he had a steady job that carried with it a certain amount of respect. He and his wife, Migdalia, had two small children and lived in a modest home. Things were going well, and he had no interest in God or religion.
One day Vitaliano returned from work early and greeted his wife. But his 5-year-old son, Alexey, did not come running to greet him. “Where is Alexey?” he asked.
“He’s at Rosabel’s,” Migdalia answered.
Rosabel was a teenage girl who lived next door. She was a good girl who loved all the children. She sponsored a children’s Bible club every week, and when she invited Alexey to attend, Migdalia agreed to let him go, but she warned Alexey not to tell his father, for he would be angry.
Alexey attended the Bible club whenever his father wasn’t home. He loved the songs and Bible videos, which taught him so much about Jesus.
“What is Alexey doing at Rosabel’s?” Vitaliano asked. Migdalia hoped that he wouldn’t ask. Now she had to tell him that Alexey was attending the children’s Bible club.
Vitaliano’s face turned red with anger. “You know I don’t want anything to do with religion!” he exploded. “Why did you let him go?”
“Rosabel invited him,” Migdalia said. “Please, let him stay. He is learning such good things, and this is his only chance to be with other children.”
A few minutes later Alexey arrived home. But when he saw his father’s face, he knew that he was in trouble.
“Alexey,” his father said firmly. “I do not want you to go to that Bible club meeting again! I do not want God in this house!”
Alexey didn’t want to disobey his father, so for several weeks he did not attend the Bible club. But when he heard the children singing, he longed to go. One evening he asked his mother if he could return to the Bible club. She agreed, and he happily ran to join the other children.
Alexey attended the Bible club regularly after that. Then one evening his father again came home early and found Alexey gone. “Where is he?” he asked. When Migdalia did not answer promptly, he guessed. “Is he at that house church next door?” he stormed. Migdalia nodded. “Go get him, right now!” he demanded.
“Please, Vitaliano,” she pleaded. “Let him go. It is better for him to be there than running in the streets. At least let him stay until the meeting is over.”
A few minutes later Alexey bounded into the house. But when he saw his father’s angry look, Alexey began to cry. “Please don’t spank me, Papa!” he pleaded. But Vitaliano was not going to let his son disobey him. As he spanked him, he ordered, “You will not go back to that house church again!”
continued
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God works wonder in the heart, is it comforting to know that God will bring my husband to his feet and we will be able to serve him before is too late. Amen!
I work in a health care and do not have the opportunity to join in worship on many occasions and I'm finding myself drifting from the sabbath observance what can I do if anyone has ever been in the same situation comments will be mostly appreciated
I Suggest you take a deep thought of your concern,meaning if you feel drifted from the sabbath and worship its best to listen to the inner call inside your heart and maybe give up on work and concentrate on the call..just like how the apostles abandoned their every day career and responsibilities and followed the savior.And mind you,they were unlike us cause by then,Jesus was not fully manifested as a savior to them..we are conviced than any other genetion..answer to the inner call in your heart.you will appreciate how much you have been missing. am glad is it not too late yet. thanks
What's great,work or God? and if God go 2 church and pray so that on tht day they will be know sick pple
My sister Priscilla,
What u must remember is that even though u are unable to attend worship services, u must focus on the gifts that our Father in heaven has blessed u with so that u in return can be a blessing to others. In other words, u have the opportunity to turn your "work" into a 'ministry of healing'. My sister, with every soothing touch, every comforting gesture and every kind word, u are showing those who have been entrusted in your care the true character of Christ. I know from experience how easy it is to fall short in Sabbath observance, especially when u have spent so many of them at work instead of being with family but having been in your situation, I will share with u what helped me to stay focused on the 4th Commandment and that is this: moment by moment, day by day, allow your words, thoughts and actions to be COMPLETELY saturated by the Holy Spirit. Once u are in the habit of prayerfully seeking God at with each breath u take, on the days u do not have to work, u will once again enjoy the Sabbath the way the Creator meant for u to. After all, God does not want u to lose your job but he DOES want u to keep him 1st! I will keep u in my prayer hermana and all will be as God has willed it 😀