“‘These many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate.’”—Luke 15:29
Legalism can be one of the hardest sins to forgive because it affects others. When I struggle with legalism, it doesn’t manifest itself privately. It comes out in my interactions with other people.
Whether we act out in our legalism or not, you and I are the unlovable. Our sin makes us so. But in addition to our ugliness, we’re much more like the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son than we’d ever want to admit. We have grace for some but not for others.
It would be really bad news if the story of the prodigal son ended with the oldest brother being rejected by his father. The good news for the older brother is the same good news for us. God welcomes us because of His Son, Jesus. We are unlovable but are made lovable by a loving Father. We demand, but He says, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours” (Luke 15:31).
Make it Personal
Are there any people in your life that you need to extend grace to? Are you acting like the older brother?