FWD: Morning Manna (Jan. 31); BP: Lk. 15:25-32; RBTTY: Mt. 20:17-34; Ex.

 
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:29:21 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Jan. 31); BP: Lk. 15:25-32; RBTTY: Mt. 20:17-34; Ex.
 

January 31                                                                                                  “On the Outside Looking In”

 

“And he was angry and would not go in; therefore, came his father out and entreated him.”

                                                                                                                                                   Luke 15:28

     Resentment and bitterness quench the Father’s joy and grieve the Holy Spirit, causing one to always miss out on God’s Party.

     Quite often we overlook this last part of Jesus’ “Parable of the Prodigal Son and the Rejoicing Father” (vv.11-32).  However, in doing so we miss out on a very important part of the story—one that certainly needs to be heard by everyone who professes to be a child of God.

 

     The older brother was out working in the field when his wayward brother returned home that day (v.25).  No doubt he’d worked in those same fields every day since the young upstart had left.  And, based on his reaction (vv.28-30), it’s very possible he was upset because the “fatted calf” they killed for the brother’s “homecoming party” (vv.23, 27) was one he’d been fattening up for himself.

 

     Regardless, one thing was clear:  He was upset and he wasn’t about to go to the party!

     “How dare he (the father) throw a party for that no-good, lazy, ungrateful, bum-of-a-brother when I stayed home. . .did everything my father said. . .worked long, hard hours out in the hot sun... and for what?!? 

     “Did Dad throw me a party while he was gone?  No!  Did he hire a band and kill a fatted calf for me?  No!  Why, he didn’t even send anyone out to get me before starting the party!  I had to find out for myself after having slaved all day long out in those stupid fields!  I’m not about to go in!!”

 

     Sound familiar, Pilgrim?

     Just because we grow older and our bodies grow bigger doesn’t mean we cease in our childish attitudes and actions.  And, even though we walk an aisle, get baptized, join a church and are there every time the door’s open doesn’t mean we’ll never act like the older brother.

 

     No, the flesh is fickle and pride is strong.  The seed of resentment will soon grow into the “root of bitterness” (Heb. 12:15).  The tender heart will become cold and hard if the sins of hatred, contempt, vindictiveness, etc., are allowed to flourish.  And, before long, there’ll be no “joy in the morning” (Ps. 30:5b); instead, there’ll only be seething hostility, unforgiveness and a critical spirit.

 

     We must notice the father came out and strongly urged the son to come in, but he refused (vv.29-30).  The father’s pleas fell on deaf ears, even though he tried to reason with him on why they were rejoicing (vv.31-32). 

 

     Oh, dear Pilgrim, there’s many a person who darkens a church door every Sunday who’s always “on the outside looking in.”  They can’t enjoy “God’s Party” because of unconfessed and unrepented of sins in their heart.  May we allow the Holy Spirit to show us today if Jesus’ joy is operational in us (Jn. 15:11).