The Parable of the Gracious Father
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Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’
20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”
Luke 15
Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’ “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”
Introduction
Introduction
Dispute over the Inheritance
Dispute over the Inheritance
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In 2017, 145 cases of disputes between family members over inheritance assets went to court. This was slightly down from the previous year but the five year trend is increasing.
In July 2015, the Court of Appeal (Ilott v Mitson) awarded an estranged daughter £143,000 after her mother left £486,000 to various animal charities. The ruling highlighted that even when adult children have been deliberately disinherited, it is still possible for them to challenge the will of the deceased.
(Slide)
The last Parable in
The last Parable in
We have come to the final parable in .
We started with “The Lost Sheep”, and then “The Lost Coin”.
Let me ask you, what is this third parable in called in your Bible?
The parable of The Lost Son?
The parable of The Prodigal Son?
May I humbly suggest that the focus of this parable is not so much the Prodigal Son but the gracious Father, and the Father’s interaction with the Prodigal Son and Elder Son.
The Gracious Father
The Gracious Father
We have been talking about some key principles when interpreting Jesus parables.
For example, we should look for the Single Narrow Dominant Point in a parable and not try to read into every detail a theological meaning.
It is called the “rule of end stress”.
Another important principle is called the “The rule of end stress”.
This is what I believe the real focus of this Parable.
It means that in a parable, as in most stories, the climax comes at the end.
But in the parable of The Lost Son, it is as if we have two critical climaxes to the story.
That reflects the length of this parable.
Firstly, the Father’s reasoning with His younger son.
(Slide)
And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
Luke 15
Secondly, the Father’s reasoning with His eldest son.
(Slide)
“But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”
Luke 15:28
Both climaxes fit the context in .
(Slide)
Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He spoke this parable to them, saying:
One author put it this way,
The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Luke Parable of the Forgiving Father (15:11–32)
The father pictures God. The prodigal symbolizes the lost, especially the tax collectors and sinners of verse 1. The elder brother represents the self-righteous leadership, the Pharisees and scribes of verse 1 or anyone else who claims to serve God and yet is harsh toward the possibility of forgiveness for sinners.
1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:
The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Luke Parable of the Forgiving Father (15:11–32)
The major issue is repentance before God and God’s willingness to forgive
21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
May I humbly suggest that a better name for this parable is “The Gracious Father”.
Especially as we look at the Father’s relationship and interaction with the Younger Son and Elder Son.
The Themes of the Parable
The Themes of the Parable
The dual theme in the parable is repentance before God and God’s willingness and joy to forgive.
This final parable in is one of Jesus longest ones.
Maybe the best known parable?
The parable highlights the complexities in the Parent-child relationship.
We have here Jesus most comprehensive response to the charge levelled against Him about His association with Tax Collectors and Sinners.
The parable highlights the complexities in a parent-child relationship.
Can you relate to the Father?
And the parable highlights the complexities in sibling rivalries.
Can you relate to the Younger Son?
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”
Or to the Older Son?
It is as relevant today as it was in first century Israel.
Dispute over the Inheritance
Dispute over the Inheritance
In 2017, there were 145 cases of disputes in the UK between family members over inheritance assets went to court.
This was slightly down from the previous year but the five year trend is increasing on the up.
In July 2015, the Court of Appeal (Ilott v Mitson) awarded an estranged daughter £143,000 after her mother left £486,000 to various animal charities. The ruling highlighted that even when adult children have been deliberately disinherited, it is still possible for them to challenge the will of the deceased.
Complexities in Parent child relationships
Sibling rivaries
As relevant today as in first century Israel.
The Younger Son
The Younger Son
The Inheritance
The Inheritance
The parable starts with the younger son demanding his inheritance early.
(Slide)
And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.
“Give me”
In first century Jewish life, the oldest brother would receive a double portion of the inheritance.
This would allow the older brother to discharge his duties as the new head of the household.
But one can also imagine how this led to sibling rivalries.
In this parable with two sons, the younger would receive 1/3 of the inheritance, whilst the older would get 2/3s.
This lesser portion could be reduced more if daughters and dowries were paid.
The 1/3
One can imagine how this led to sibling rivalries.
It was normal for such division to happen at death but it could happen earlier.
As is the case here.
The younger son leaves with his inheritance.
Raising a Child
Raising a Child
Let me just make this comment as the father of two grown adult children.
Raising a child or grandchild is never easy.
It is a joy, it is an honour, and it is a privilege.
It is the best of times and often, the most difficult of times.
We want to protect our children, but sometimes they have to find out the hard way in life.
Norma and I are very proud of our son and daughter, but I assure you it was not always easy.
It was good to have someone say to us now and again, “it will be ok in the end”.
The Gracious Father in this story lets his adult son go off with all his inheritance, and with no conditions.
We want to protect our children, but sometimes they have to find out the hard way.
There are many in the church today, who have children, grandchildren, siblings, parents, even spouses who are not in the church, and want little or nothing to do with the Lord.
This is not a guilt trip.
Each person is responsible before a loving, merciful and just God.
The Father did nothing wrong here and the son still left.
The parable of the Lost Coin give us food for thought for those at home.
The best thing we can do is pray, encourage and be the sermon at home.
But even after all that, a loved one may decide to go, spirtually and even physically.
Prodigal Living
Prodigal Living
The story continues
(Slide)
And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.
The younger son wastes his life and his inheritance in wasteful living.
“Prodigal living”
Living is the verb here. Prodigal the adverb, which describes the verb.
Prodigal can also be translated wasteful.
So “Wasteful living”.
24 Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.
The pursuit of happiness that excludes God
The pursuit of happiness that excludes God
“Eat, drink, for tomorrow we may die”
It is the attitude of get it now and have it all now.
Is this what characterises most people today especially in the wealthy nations of the world?
Is this why there seems to be so little regard to the Lord in such lands?
It is a “Me first and me last attitude, and the “love of many grows cold”
The endless search for wealth, pleasure, joy, security.
Even religion can be used this way.
Quoting from .
The pursuit of happiness that excludes God
The pursuit of happiness that excludes God
It is the pursuit of happiness.
But it is a pursuit that excludes the Lord.
Even if God’s name is claimed in a nominal way.
It is a pursuit that never can satisfy.
The Apostle Paul writes,
(Slide)
If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
The endless search for wealth, pleasure, joy and security.
It is the pursuit of happiness.
Nothing wrong with hoping to be happy.
But if that pursuit excludes the Lord, It is a pursuit that never can satisfy.
It is a pursuit that never can satisfy.
The older brother was brutally honest about the Younger Son (tone).
You can imagine a tone in his voice about his sibling,
(Slide)
But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
“devoured your livelihood with harlots”
We do not need to speculate more here.
The Famine Came
The Famine Came
Jesus continues the story,
(Slide)
But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
The famine came.
The famine always eventually comes.
It can come in different ways, but it always comes.
That had been the history of Israel and Judah
In Judges we see this cycle taking place
In God’s time, not ours.
eventually It comes to Israel and Judah, as they sit down by the Rivers of Babylon and longed for home.
Key Point - God will not tolerate any rivals in our affections.
Key Point - That is idolatry.
Israel and Judah learned this the hard way.
Many years before judgement came through Assyria and Babylon, the Prophet Amos wrote,
(Slide)
It came to Paul
“Also I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities. And lack of bread in all your places; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the Lord. “I also withheld rain from you, When there were still three months to the harvest. I made it rain on one city, I withheld rain from another city. One part was rained upon, And where it did not rain the part withered. So two or three cities wandered to another city to drink water, But they were not satisfied; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the Lord. “I blasted you with blight and mildew. When your gardens increased, Your vineyards, Your fig trees, And your olive trees, The locust devoured them; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the Lord. “I sent among you a plague after the manner of Egypt; Your young men I killed with a sword, Along with your captive horses; I made the stench of your camps come up into your nostrils; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the Lord. “I overthrew some of you, As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, And you were like a firebrand plucked from the burning; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the Lord.
Charles Spurgeon writes,
Morning and Evening Evening, March 6
It is an old and common saying, that “coming events cast their shadows before them;” the wise man teaches us that a haughty heart is the prophetic prelude of evil.
The patience of the Lord with us
The love of the Lord to send to famine.
The famine comes to the younger son.
The Purpose of such famines is always Redemptive
My Father in Law used to say, “Those who will not listen, must feel”.
God’s Purpose is always Redemptive
God’s Purpose is always Redemptive
Key point - The purpose of such famines is always Redemptive
Think about the patience of the Lord with us
Just imagine being one of the Tax Collectors and Sinners listening to this Parable.
The love of the Lord to send the famine.
It is the Father’s heart to seek that which is lost
I doubt they thought they could return to God.
To seek this wayward son or daughter.
So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.
The religious community of the day had excluded them.
Key Point - The Purpose is always the same, that which is lost, may be found.
And then we have these profound verses,
(Slide)
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’
Just imagine being one of the Tax Collectors and Sinners listening to Jesus.
I doubt they thought the younger son could go back to the Father.
He had made his bed and let him lie in in
The religious community of the day had excluded them.
They had made their bed and let him lie in it, with the pigs
Came to his Senses
Came to his Senses
And then we have these profound verses,
(Slide)
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’
Just imagine being one of the Tax Collectors and Sinners listening to Jesus.
The younger son can not go back to the Father!
They had made his bed and let him lie in it, with the pigs. Just like us.
But then We read this seismic change in this parable.
Did you hear it?
“He Came to himself” or “Came to his senses:”
Many scholars belief this to be the Aramaic expression for Repentance.
The evidence of such is shown by what the younger son says and does next.
(Same Slide)
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’
Luke 15:17
It shows a change of mind and a change of heart.
It shows the working of the Holy Spirit in a perons heart.
Father in Law, “Those who will not listen, must feel”.
We could almost say the younger son was born again, back to his senses,
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
Back to being a son, though now he saw himself as a hired servant.
When we are confronted with sin, two things can happen.
We can rationalise it, so hardening our heart.
Or we can “Come to our senses”, which means admit it and turn from it.
The First Climax
The First Climax
So we come to the first climax in this epic story
(Slide)
“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
(Slide with Picture)
“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
I am sure you know it was unheard of in first century Israel for the Father to run and embrace a son!
Yet alone a son who had wasted all in prodigal living.
I feel anything I say here will detract from this beautiful picture of God’s love for people who come to him.
You see, it is all about coming to Jesus, whatever we have done, where-ever we have been.
Emphasis - Can you imagine how the Tax Collectors and Sinners reacted to this?
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
I believe this is a picture of how we should we treating people
The New King James Version Chapter 15
Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
High fives, cheering...
You see they thought there was no way back for them.
Thats what the religious elite of the day had told them.
Jesus is the way back, the very person amongst them telling them the story
He had run to them already, he was in their midst.
The Elder Son
The Elder Son
The Second Climax
The Second Climax
The New King James Version Chapter 15
Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
And so we come to the second climax in this story.
(Slide)
The New King James Version Chapter 15
Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
“Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
(Slide with Picture)
You can almost hear the boos from the listening Tax Collectors and Sinners.
And the stunned silence from those Pharisees and Scribes.
I believe the picture of how we should treat any person coming to the Lord, coming to church, regardless of their “sinfulness”, is demonstrated by the gracious Father.
But unfortunately too many times this is not the case.
I believe the picture of how we should treat anyone who offended us, or wronged us, or who we have every right to be angry with, or hold a grudge against, is demonstrated by the gracious Father.
And that is hard! Very hard.
In fact, It is impossible, with man!
Since becoming a Lay Pastor in California and now a full time Pastor in the UK, what I hear time and time again from people (who often no longer come to church) is that at some time they were on the end of the Elder Brother or Elder Sister verbal lashing, comments or gossip.
It hurt and it hurt deeply.
Whatever the supposed right and wrong of the situations.
This should not be!
We can do better!
We must do better!
I don’t think it is an excuse to separate oneself from church. It may mean we need to go to a different church.
It may mean we need to go to a different church.
We can do better!
We must do better!
The Conclusion
The Conclusion
Look at the gracious Father’s response to the Elder Son.
This is the second great climix in this epic story.
(Slide)
“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”
We are here, we are are still here, and you are working for the Lord!
Key Point - The Father does not contradict the claims of the Elder son as to his loyal service and obedience.
The Father emphasis that all He has is already the possession of his oldest son, as a gift, and not earned.
The Father condemns his attitude to others! Especially to those not doing what he was doing!
Especially to those not doing what he was doing!
The remedy here is also clear.
We need a greater vision of the Lord.
What the Lord has done for us at the cross.
“You are always with me”, “All that I have is yours”
“All that I have is yours”
If we can really grasp these truths
Our un-payable debt of gratitude
Our privileged position.
You see the elder son though he had to earn it and deserve it.
The Father says, it is a gift and you already have it all.
Our un-payable debt of gratitude
Our privileged position.
Key Point - When we really get this, our privileged position with the Lord, and behold His love, beauty and perfection, It will transform our relationships with others.
especially with the younger sons or sisters.
Let me ask you
Will you and I join with the Lord in seeking that which is lost, so that it may be found?
It starts with me.
And we will rejoice when that which is lost, is found, regardless of who or how that happens.
Will you and I rejoice with the Lord when that which is lost, is found, regardless of who or how that happens?
Will you and I make that commitment today?