Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Luke 15:10
11And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Luke 15:11-32
We can read these words. If you have read them, please now read them again. We tend to miss so much until we quieten our minds and be still.
I would like to talk/write about the words that are not written.
We see a love story that really touches our hearts in this parable spoken by Jesus. That's nice but if that is all they are, it is a waste. We know that nothing Jesus has done is a waste so we need to allow the words to sink in deeply and chew them over and over to allow Him to work His work in us.
We see a man who left home and lived in sin. He decided to go back to his father's house. When his father saw him coming he ran to meet his son.
He told his servants (who are they?) to get a party organised and treat the returned son as royalty of the household.
His other brother who had never done such a despiteful thing was upset and voiced his feelings. His father explained to him about the need to rejoice.
(there are lots of other things, but for now, if we can keep these few points for the purpose here)
So, some things that we don't see written....
After the son returned, did he then go back out into the world to live as a pig?
We can party about the mean spirit of the other brother but, does it say that he was thrown out for being angry or complaining about how the other brother had been so wrong in the way he lived?
Again, do you think the son who returned to his father's house continued to go back into the world and occasionally slip up a bit, do a little sin here and a little there?
Again, the other brother, he had stayed put and not been riotous in darkness away from home, away from his father. Although he spoke up and was displeased that the brother who had been sinning should be treated as if he never sinned, and to be an equal with the 'good and righteous' son, his father gently replied. Do you think the father stripped him of his right in the family. Do you think he was sent away because he found it so hard to accept the actions of the vagrant son?
And now, the son who returned... do you think he got all smug and pious with the other brother? Do you think he considered himself better?
The returned son received love with open arms, nothing hidden. Do you think it would be OK if he started telling the other son off for his bad attitude?
Do you think the servants would have joined in with that?
Be glad in each other's shared love from the Father and be glad if you learn that one has returned... was dead but now is alive.
it is your Father's house.... love Him and love each other
Bless you ....><>
11And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Luke 15:11-32
We can read these words. If you have read them, please now read them again. We tend to miss so much until we quieten our minds and be still.
I would like to talk/write about the words that are not written.
We see a love story that really touches our hearts in this parable spoken by Jesus. That's nice but if that is all they are, it is a waste. We know that nothing Jesus has done is a waste so we need to allow the words to sink in deeply and chew them over and over to allow Him to work His work in us.
We see a man who left home and lived in sin. He decided to go back to his father's house. When his father saw him coming he ran to meet his son.
He told his servants (who are they?) to get a party organised and treat the returned son as royalty of the household.
His other brother who had never done such a despiteful thing was upset and voiced his feelings. His father explained to him about the need to rejoice.
(there are lots of other things, but for now, if we can keep these few points for the purpose here)
So, some things that we don't see written....
After the son returned, did he then go back out into the world to live as a pig?
We can party about the mean spirit of the other brother but, does it say that he was thrown out for being angry or complaining about how the other brother had been so wrong in the way he lived?
Again, do you think the son who returned to his father's house continued to go back into the world and occasionally slip up a bit, do a little sin here and a little there?
Again, the other brother, he had stayed put and not been riotous in darkness away from home, away from his father. Although he spoke up and was displeased that the brother who had been sinning should be treated as if he never sinned, and to be an equal with the 'good and righteous' son, his father gently replied. Do you think the father stripped him of his right in the family. Do you think he was sent away because he found it so hard to accept the actions of the vagrant son?
And now, the son who returned... do you think he got all smug and pious with the other brother? Do you think he considered himself better?
The returned son received love with open arms, nothing hidden. Do you think it would be OK if he started telling the other son off for his bad attitude?
Do you think the servants would have joined in with that?
Be glad in each other's shared love from the Father and be glad if you learn that one has returned... was dead but now is alive.
it is your Father's house.... love Him and love each other
Bless you ....><>
