“We had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” —Luke 15:32
The parable of the prodigal son is a great story with a great ending—at least as far as the prodigal is concerned. But it’s actually the story of two sons. When the repentant brother returned home, his elder brother’s true heart was exposed.
Rather than showing joy and relief, the elder brother was angry and refused to join the celebration.
I’ve been told that in ancient Jewish culture, when the head of the home left the party, the music and dancing stopped until the host returned. Isn’t this a picture of what’s happening in many of our churches? There’s no celebration over lost sinners being restored because the pastor and leadership are distracted by petty “elder brothers” who are busy nursing their wounded pride.
How typical of proud, unbroken people—perhaps even of ourselves—first losing sight of our own need for the gospel, then resenting God’s generous display of grace, mercy, and forgiveness toward others. May the Lord guard our hearts from going there!
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The Quiet Place: Daily Devotional Readings ©2012 Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Scripture taken from The CSB
Make it Personal
Have you lost your excitement for gospel transformation in the lives of those around you? What could help rekindle this passion?