Our Father is kind and merciful!
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
So to them Jesus addressed this parable.
"A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
'Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.'
So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings
and set off to a distant country
where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country,
and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens
who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,
but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought,
'How many of my father's hired workers
have more than enough food to eat,
but here am I, dying from hunger.
I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,
"Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son;
treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers."'
So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him,
'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.'
But his father ordered his servants,
'Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.'
Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field
and, on his way back, as he neared the house,
he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him,
'Your brother has returned
and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.'
He became angry,
and when he refused to enter the house,
his father came out and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply,
'Look, all these years I served you
and not once did I disobey your orders;
yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.
But when your son returns
who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,
for him you slaughter the fattened calf.'
He said to him,
'My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.'"
~Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Our Father is kind and merciful! In Luke 15:18 we are told, I will get up and go to my father and shall say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. We need to remember that God forgives our sins, He wants us to go to Him! He still loves us, look at the Father in the Prodigal Son, it warmed his heart that his son returned home to him. Jesus knew that this parable reflects God's loves for us. He wanted to know us, He wants us to be with Him! he wants us to follow Jesus, our example, to reflect, forgive, imitate, and love like Him! While the wild son hurt and disappointed his father and brother. the father forgave him and welcomed him back. His brother was not as happy, he felt he was cheated, we need to be careful of this, God wants us to show love and mercy, compassion, and forgiveness. Do you have hate in your heart like this brother who was mad? Can you find love, forgiveness, compassion, and mercy in your heart like the father did? Or will you go around angry, full of hate, resentment, envy, jealousy, insecurities, regret? God wants us to love like Jesus! The father showed this, but the brother didn't. His father had to remind him of all of this. He wanted to show him we need to show mercy. Got mercy?
Enjoy my websites/blogs at:
Comments
Post a Comment
The Truth-God is Truth and Love