I am the older brother. You know, the one who watched his younger brother run off to
party away the inheritance he convinced his father to give him. I feel like for my entire life I’ve
been the older brother. I’ve grown
up in church and have been really good at being religious. I’m really good at following rules and
doing what is expected. The older
brother was the same. He didn’t
ask for his share of the estate early.
He probably never even thought about it because it wasn’t the right
thing to do.
When his wild younger brother returned he was even doing
what was expected. He was obeying
his authority and working in the fields.
In Luke 15:25, The Message Bible says, “All this time his older son was
out in the field. When the day’s work was done he came in. As he approached the house, he heard
the music and dancing.” When he
found out that his younger brother was getting special treatment for returning
home, he was angry and refused to join in on the celebration.
There have been many times in my life when I’ve used the
“That’s Not Fair” card. I shout,
“But I’m doing what’s right! I’m
following the rules. Why do they get
blessed and I don’t!” That’s
exactly what the older brother said when his dad went to talk to him about why
he was not joining in on the celebration.
His dad replied, “Son, you don’t understand, you’re with me all the
time, and everything that is mine is yours.” (Luke 15:31). His dad didn’t say, “Because you did
the right thing, everything that is mine is yours.” Or “Because you followed the rules, everything that is mine
is yours.” He just said, “Because
you are with me all the time, everything that is mine is yours.”
This month God has spoken to me loud and clear that I have
total freedom to all He has to offer.
Not because of what I do or how I try to live my life. ONLY because I’m His daughter.
