Lost And Found – The Other Brother

This article is part 11 of 11 in the series Lost And Found

   This is sad, “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in” (Luke 15:25-28a). 
   This was a time for celebrating, but not for the elder brother. He heard how the
father was rejoicing with the return of his brother, but he did not share the
feelings of his father. You remember how this began? “Now the tax collectors
and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the
teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 
   The elder brother was angry, and refused to go it and celebrate. Why? Because his brother had gone off and squandered everything, and then comes home and seems to get it all back! It’s almost like the elder brother is jealous! “You should tell your son that he is not welcome anymore!” “He has done too much! He has not obeyed your commands like I have!” “He has not worked every day in the fields like I have! He has done everything he could to shame and dishonor you, Father!!!” “This is just not fair! You receive him back with open arms, give him the best robe, a ring, shoes, and
kill that stupid calf… which should have been for me!!!” On and on the brother complains, and reveals his heart to the father. 
   The father now responds to his other son. The one who had been ‘faithful’, and kept his commandments, and worked so hard… “My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:31-32). 
    “Christians are not perfect (by a long shot), they’re just forgiven.” The life of the Christian is one of growing in grace. Grace is not something which just saves, it is that by which one GROWS AND BECOMES. It’s about ‘elbow room’, its about patience with each other as well as love. One does not need to know everything about the Bible to be saved, he just needs to come to Jesus, repent of sins and be immersed into Christ
(Acts 2:38)… Then the new Christian (babe) needs to grow. Will he make mistakes
(sin)? Yes. Doesn’t every child do things need corrected? Yes. Even when your
child breaks your heart… you don’t disown the child. 
   Are there any who have lost their way out there? Any who just want to get up out of the pig pen, and ‘come home’? Are there any who feel so unforgiveable and unworthy as this son did? No wonder the tax collectors and the sinners “drew near to Him”… Jesus was then, He is now… the one who can fill the needs of all who are lost. “Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like …. me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.”

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