Have you wondered why the older brother is even in the story?

It’s a curious story. A favorite really. If you’ve sat in church or heard a testimony you’re probably familiar with the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

For years, I focused on the prodigal and the father running to Him. It’s a beautiful picture of God’s never-ending, long-suffering, oceans-of-grace, love!

I loved imagining God running to me and scooping me up in His powerful arms.

Honestly, why doesn’t this parable end with the happy party and the famous words, “this my son son was dead but is alive again: he was lost and is found. And they began to be merry.” ?(Luke 15:24)

Cue the praise music. The end.

But it doesn’t end there. There’s this sulking, older brother.

He had been the good one. He served the Father and followed the rules.

But when the Father didn’t act like he expected Him to act, the older brother was enraged.

He felt he was owed something for his obedience. (Surely, we don’t ever feel that way? 😳)

And the father responds, “Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.”(Luke 15:31)

Remember, Jesus has just been teaching on the relationship that is a gift from a pursuing God for a lost sheep that never did a thing to earn it.

When we focus on the blessing of THAT, when we truly appreciate what God has done for us, we don’t get upset at how He blesses other people.

And, when He is our first love, when we love Him, we can trust Him even when He does things we don’t like or understand.

The more we seek God in REAL relationship, rather than think we can follow some rules to earn some blessings, the more He will be enough to satisfy us and the less we will seek that from this world.

We will know Him well enough to say “whatever my lot, you have taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul”.

That’s where it is well with your soul. Oh friend, may our hearts remember what God has done for us!

If He never does another good thing for me, He has already done more than enough! ❤️

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