In the story of the Prodigal Son, the younger son was lost but was found and returned to the joy and love of his father. The spotlight’s on him for the first part of the story. Despite treating his father in an unforgivable way, his father forgives and welcomes him home.
But there are two brothers in the story. The older brother does what’s expected of him, but when his lost brother comes home he refuses to come in and share his father’s joy. He's miffed that the father’s lavishing his wealth and love on his younger rebellious brother after he’s wasted his share of the estate doing whatever he wanted, while he (the older brother) didn't get to do anything he wanted with the father’s wealth.
The two sons both wanted the same thing – they wanted what their father had with no strings attached – no responsibility to him. One brazenly took the money and ran. The other thought he could manipulate the father by his good life. Neither was interested in the father. He was just the means to get what they wanted. And that attitude isolated both of them from the father – they were both lost.
Some of our lives look like the younger brother – thumbing our nose at God and living however we like. Some of us look more like the older brother – we live a good life and do the right thing and expect God to leave us alone. Some of us flip back and forth between the two. But both ways leave us lost – away from God and outside his love.
The good news is that we all have a much better older brother who came to seek out lost people and save us from an eternity away from God. His name is Jesus. He brings the lost children of God from both near and far away back to the Father who loves us and longs to welcome us home.
Jesus’ death and resurrection is the way home into the eternal love and joy of the father. He’s seeking you to save you. Will you let him find you?
In Christ’s love,
Paul
But there are two brothers in the story. The older brother does what’s expected of him, but when his lost brother comes home he refuses to come in and share his father’s joy. He's miffed that the father’s lavishing his wealth and love on his younger rebellious brother after he’s wasted his share of the estate doing whatever he wanted, while he (the older brother) didn't get to do anything he wanted with the father’s wealth.
The two sons both wanted the same thing – they wanted what their father had with no strings attached – no responsibility to him. One brazenly took the money and ran. The other thought he could manipulate the father by his good life. Neither was interested in the father. He was just the means to get what they wanted. And that attitude isolated both of them from the father – they were both lost.
Some of our lives look like the younger brother – thumbing our nose at God and living however we like. Some of us look more like the older brother – we live a good life and do the right thing and expect God to leave us alone. Some of us flip back and forth between the two. But both ways leave us lost – away from God and outside his love.
The good news is that we all have a much better older brother who came to seek out lost people and save us from an eternity away from God. His name is Jesus. He brings the lost children of God from both near and far away back to the Father who loves us and longs to welcome us home.
Jesus’ death and resurrection is the way home into the eternal love and joy of the father. He’s seeking you to save you. Will you let him find you?
In Christ’s love,
Paul
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