: WJD! -- The Loving Father -- Luke 15:25-30

[Michael Atkins]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: HEARTLIGHT <edi...@heartlight.org>
Date: Fri, Sep 16, 2011 at 1:00 AM
Subject: WJD! -- The Loving Father -- Luke 15:25-30
To: w...@maillists.heartlight.org


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                                         Friday, September 16, 2011

The Loving Father


   "The older son was in the field. He came closer to the house.
   He heard the sound of music and dancing. So the older son
   called to one of the servant boys and asked, 'What does all
   this mean?' The servant said, 'Your brother has come back.
   Your father killed the fat calf to eat. Your father is happy
   because your brother came home safely!' The older son was
   angry and would not go in to the party. So his father went
   out to ask him to come in. The son said to his father, 'I
   have served you like a slave for many years! I have always
   obeyed your commands. But you never killed even a goat for
   me! You never gave a party for me and my friends. But your
   other son has wasted all your money on prostitutes. Then he
   comes home, and you kill the fat calf for him!'"

                           -- Luke 15:25-30 (ERV)


KEY THOUGHT:
There is no doubt that the behavior of the older son is horrible and
selfish. "I've been working hard (lit. "slaving") for you all these
years ..." reveals his attitude about his service to his father. He
doesn't see what the younger son has discovered; it is better to be a
slave in the father's house than to be without the father! What is
amazing is the grace of the father. He loves both sons. He has given
the inheritance to both sons. So he does what a father would have never
been expected to do in that day: he goes out to console his pouting and
selfish son and invite him to the banquet. Jesus' point is that our
Heavenly Father doesn't want any child to be lost -- not the rebellious
child and not the self-righteous child. The bottom line is that the
Father loves each and every one of us and wants us all to be a part of
his celebration of grace no matter the place we are now!


TODAY'S PRAYER:
Father, thank you for your unselfish and inexhaustible love. Without
your grace I would be lost. With your grace, I give thanks in
anticipation of the great celebration of your grace before your throne.
In Jesus' name. Amen.



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>> The WJD! web page has related scriptures and the
>> full text of today's key passage.  Read it at:
  http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/luke/0916-wjd.html

>> For further study of today's passage, use our
>> online Bible study site: SearchGodsWord.org!
  http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Luke+15:25-30&sr=1&t=erv

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