“In the same way, there is
joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents." - Luke
15:10
The parable of the prodigal
son is really a message about our Heavenly Father who watches for our
homecoming to Him. He rejoices every time a sinner turns his/her heart to Him
and repents (Luke 15:10).
We all know this story. One
son rebels against his father’s rules and despised the need to work for his
living. In his selfish state of mind, he demanded and squandered his
inheritance before his father even died. Yet, upon his repentant return home,
he received a party, a ring of authority (like a credit card) and a new robe
and shoes from his father.
Now, the second son
faithfully served his father with respect and deference, never causing him any
heartache or distress. Then, when his errant brother returns home, we detect
jealousy and resentfulness in this young man because of his father’s mercy and
grace toward his brother. He said, "All these years I've been slaving for
you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young
goat" (Luke 15:29).
This dear son walked in
obedience and service to his father for his whole life. He felt slapped in the
face by his father’s apparent disregard for his wayward brother’s reckless
behavior. We do this too. We see other people who have more material blessings
than we do, and we accuse God of loving them more than He cares for us. The
faithful son focused on the meager offering the father gave his rebellious son
and forgot the immense treasure that lay in wait for him. We forget too. These
people are receiving their meager blessings now, but our immense treasure
awaits us in heaven (2 Corinthians 4:7).
The father had to remind his
faithful son, "‘My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and
everything I have is yours’" (Luke 15:31). Everything our Heavenly Father has belongs to us as
well. No matter how much or how little of their life a person squanders, when
they come to Christ they receive His equal inheritance (Luke 23:
32-43). If this bothers us, we have to
go to our Father for an attitude adjustment, just like the jealous son did.
We are joint heirs with
Jesus (Romans 8:17) and all
that is His belongs to us as well. He freely shares his treasure with those in
His Body. We too should freely share our treasure – physical, spiritual and
emotional – with all of those God places in our life. We reach out to everyone
in order to win those that Jesus is calling to Himself.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, only in You do
we find the true riches of righteousness, peace and joy (Romans
14:17). You gave us the opportunity to
follow You all the days of our life and to reap the benefits of righteous
living and the inheritance we share with You from our Heavenly Father. Keep us
on the narrow road of Truth. We submit our lives to You and resist the world,
our flesh and the devil. Thank You that when we do, Satan must flee from us (James
4:7). Prayer:
Thought for the Day:
Bitterness and gratefulness
cannot coexist, because negative emotions blind us from seeing God’s true gifts
in our life. Thank you, Elisa Hall, for the use of your photo.
