Loving the Prodigal Son

Brothers and sisters, as we mature into the Lord Jesus we must beware the temptation to think more highly of ourselves than we ought, or to reject those who, for one reason or another, do not come to maturity in Christ.  What good thing is there in our lives that we ourselves may boast of?  Is not the Lord Jesus the only One pleasing to our Father?

The Lord's injunction in the book of Luke, "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me," has the word "if" in it.  Some of us will follow the Lord in spirit and truth.  Others of us will serve and follow self, believing we are following Christ, when in truth we are not.

Like the prodigal son, there are many of us who will squander our inheritance on the works of the flesh, whether they be secular or religious.  Though sons, we will refuse to deny ourselves, take up the Cross, and serve the Father.  And the Lord may send us far away from Himself, to be joined to the citizens of this world.  He may lead us into a time of trial and famine to bring us to our senses.  Yet His heart ever longs for us.

When we finally come to ourselves, we will confess that we have sinned against heaven and before Him, and are no more worthy to be called sons.  And though we come to Him filthy and soiled with the uncleanness of this pigsty, He will still place the best robe upon us  - a precious and wondrous Garment of incomparable worth!  This Garment alone will make us worthy to enter into the marriage-feast.

Remember, the seeds that fall by the way side are devoured and those which fall upon rocky places have no root, and so are scorched and die.  But those which fall among thorns have Root and are alive, even though they are choked and have become unfruitful.

And though the wood, hay, and stubble we have built on the foundation of Jesus Christ is burned away in that day, leaving us with only ashes upon the foundation to present unto the Father, yet what a precious and wondrous Foundation of incomparable worth!  This Foundation alone will make us worthy to stand before God.

And what of the older brother, those of us who are denying self, embracing the Cross and following Him wherever He leads?  These many years have we served Him, laboring in His fields, and keeping His commandments.  We have sacrificed our earthly rewards - receiving no fatted calf that we might make merry with our friends.  Hear then what the Father says: we are always with Him, and the full inheritance - All that He has - is ours.  But that inheritance is also the Grace and Gift of God.  No reward is due us for obeying His commandments -- we are unprofitable servants: we have done that which it was our duty to do. It is only through the Father's good pleasure that we receive anything.

Those who have heeded the call of the Lord Jesus to come up hither in the spirit, and who continue to abide together with Him in His heavenly abode, shall one day receive a prize of His upward call of body, soul, and spirit.  These who both know Him and are known by Him - even these who are intimate with Him - shall be His Bride.  But regardless of the way He might honor us, let us cast our crowns before His throne.  He alone is worthy to receive glory, and honor, and power: for He has created all things, and for HIS pleasure they are and were created.

Let us not be angry at the compassion of the Father for His prodigal son, nor puff ourselves up against our brother, nor be envious of the kindnesses the Father bestows upon him.  "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  As we have therefore, opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."  "And whosoever, shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward."