Where Are You In The Story?
Romans 5:9-f.f., Luke 15
There are many benefits to being justified by God through faith in Christ Jesus. Last week we briefly looked at these. These benefits, however, are wasted if we do not do all to reach others and bring them to the One who can justify them. God’s heart is to reach the lost, period.
The first two parables in Luke 15 teach us several things. First, God is searching for the lost and He wants to use us. Second, the lost need to be found. He wants us to go and point them to a seeking Savior. Last, there is great celebration when the lost are found. When was the last time you caused heaven to celebrate?
Christ, then goes into a similar parable but in greater detail and application. He tells a story that is still echoing through the years and resonating in hearts today. We must start with the crowd to get the whole picture. In the crowd are many who are seeking after God. They want to hear His teaching. Then, there are the religious hypocrites. As we discuss this story, please ask God to give you a seeking heart, not a hypocritical heart.
There are three characters in this story: the father, the oldest son and the prodigal son. The story starts with the father’s heart being broken by his youngest son. The youngest son wanted his inheritance from his father so he could leave and live the way he wanted. To understand this, we must understand the culture. First, what he was saying to his father was, “I wish you were dead.” By law, this was cause for stoning. The son should have been destroyed at the door of his father’s house. In addition, by law the oldest son gets two thirds of the inheritance leaving a third to the rest at death of the father. The youngest son was flat out stealing from his father because he was still alive. Lastly, this was not just a young man wanting to sow his wild oats, but rather the youngest was drawing a line in the sand. He did not want to share the family name with his father any more.
Next, the father is abandoned. The son takes what is lawfully his father’s and leaves. He leaves to live the life that he wants and it leads to destruction. When we walk away from the Father to live the lives we want, it always ends up the same. A wanton life lived always ends in ruin and waste. Instead of living and wallowing in the pigpens of sin and deceit, God gives us grace to eat at the grand buffet of grace and taste of the righteous food of God’s mercy and blessing. Are you living today in the justification and grace of a loving Father?