Last Sunday was humiliating. The pastor preached on the parable of the Prodigal Son, emphasizing the love of the Father. He identified two audiences for Jesus' story: the prodigals who repented and found abundant love and grace, and the self-righteous Pharisees who accused the Father of injustice in His unconditional love. Especially cutting was the pastor's emphasis on how the older son described his brother. In both the NKJV and NIV, he says "This son of yours," and not "my brother." Oh, how that pierced my heart! I cried hot tears at the altar that Sunday.
How often have I viewed other sons and daughters of our heavenly Father in such terms?! How often have I said, "This so-and-so" instead of "my brother" or "my sister," or otherwise refused them the love and forgiveness that our Father in heaven offers so freely? I admit that I have been self-righteous, which prevented me from going inside to enjoy the blessings of God like the angry older brother who refused to join the celebration of his brother's return.
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