e-votional
a message to encourage and uplift from College Heights Baptist Church
Thursday October 9, 2008
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25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 “And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 27 “And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 “But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29 “But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; 30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’ “ – Luke 15:25-32 (NASB)
The other day, my wife was going through old pictures looking for some snapshots of our oldest son. She found one of him as a toddler walking in my shoes – his little feet in my size twelve dress shoes. Have you ever walked in someone else’s shoes? Well, for a few moments, let’s walk in the sandals of a frustrated older brother.
You have been working in the fields all day. The sun has been beating down on you for quite a while. You are covered in sweat and dirt. Another hard day is drawing to a close. It used to be a little easier when your brother was here to help, but he has been gone for some time now. He was drawn to the lights and the sounds of the big city. All the parties and the “good times” beckoned him. He bailed on you and dad.
As you make your way to the house, you hear music playing. The sounds and smells of a big party fill the air. What in the world’s going on?! Then you find out. Your good-for-nothing little brother has come home. Rather than getting a boot in the rear and the door slammed in his face, dad has thrown him a party. This stinks! This guy has run off and squandered everything doing only God knows what and now he has the audacity to come back. Worse yet, he gets a party! Dad throws him a party? He wouldn’t even let you have a little get-together with your friends.
It’s easy to see how the eldest might be a little frustrated. When Jesus told this parable, the Pharisees were within earshot. You see, they were the older brother. They were frustrated that they had been doing “all the right things,” and this Jesus was hanging out with people doing the all the wrong things (see Luke 15:1-2). Jesus reminds them and us that we need to check our attitude when people come home to God. After all, that is why He came in the first place (Luke 19:10).
Sometimes in life we are the prodigal. Sometimes, we are the one standing at home when the prodigal arrives. In those times, we need to be careful not to get filled with resentment and bitterness. Remember the same grace that kept us home is the same grace that calls home the prodigal. We have all heard the phrase, “that guy always comes up smelling like a rose.” It’s easy to feel like the one returning to the Lord deserves something other than he gets. Our attitude, however, needs to be one of rejoicing. We are glad when the lost sheep is safe in the shepherd’s arms. We sing when the lost coin is found. We rejoice when the lost son comes home.
Pastor Darrell
