Homebuilding 101: Loving the Rebel

How do we deal with the rebellious people who shake their fists at God? Are they our enemies? Are we ever like them? David’s son Absalom led a full-scale rebellion against his dad, usurping his throne and burning the bridge with his father. As David and his household ran for their lives, he asked his men not to harm Absalom. When Absalom died, David poured out his heart. He said he wished he had died in place of his rebellious son. Who loves like that? Do we? Message based on 2 Samuel 14:4-8, 12-14; 18:32-33. Quotes:Patriot Movie character: I have long feared that my sins would return to visit me. And the cost is more than I can bear.Duane Brooks: We must not allow our past mistakes to paralyze us in our parenting.Stu Weber said to his children: I love you, I will do anything for you. Nothing you could ever do, could make me not love you.F. B. Meyer: This is the bitterest of all—to know that suffering need not have been; that it has resulted from indiscretion and inconsistency; that it is the harvest of one’s own sowing; that the vulture which feeds on the vitals is a nestling of one’s own rearing. Ah me! This is pain!A pastor: I remember standing before the plate-glass window in my living room, staring out into the darkness, waiting for my daughter to come home. I felt such rage.  I wanted to be like the father of the Prodigal Son, but I was furious with the way she would manipulate us and twist the knife. She was hurting herself more than anyone. And yet, I must tell you, when my daughter came home that night or rather the next morning, I wanted nothing in the world so much as to take her in my arms, to love her, and to tell her I wanted the best for her.Eugene Peterson: David regained important things in the wilderness.Jesus prayed from the cross: Father forgive them, they know not what they do.Duane Brooks: Meet me at the Mountain called Calvary, today. All is forgiven. Love, Abba.To discover more messages of hope, go to tallowood.org/sermons/.Follow us on X and YouTube @tallowoodbcFollow us on Instagram @tallowood.baptistFollow us on FaceBook @tallowoodbaptist