Rachel Workman: 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’
28 “The older brother was angry and
wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he
replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a
single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one
young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of
yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by
killing the fattened calf!’
Honestly, I can understand the brother’s
initial reaction. What he failed to see is if his brother had not had that
experience he wouldn't have come humbly to his father. He wouldn’t have had
confessed his unworthiness. In fact, he would have went the rest of his life
thinking he had never done anything wrong. It's when we confess to God and
repent, as the son did with his father that he picks us up off the floor.
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Mike Grimm: 25 “Meanwhile, the older son
was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and
dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and
asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has
come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has
him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go
in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But
he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and
never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could
celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of
yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you
kill the fattened calf for him!
’ In the story of the
lost son, the father’s response is contrasted with the older brother’s. The
father forgave because he was filled with love. The older sons refused to
forgive because he was bitter about the injustice of it all. His resentment
rendered him just as lost to the father’s love as his younger brother had been.
We shouldn’t let anything keep us from forgiving others. If we are refusing to
forgive people, we are missing a wonderful opportunity to experience joy and
share it with others.
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Tomorrow’s reading for Luke 15:31-32
31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear
son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We
had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to
life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”
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