In the parable of the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15:11-32, the older son stayed in the Father's house and faithfully worked in the Father's fields, but did not share the Father's heart or truly care about the Father's pain or joy - he was much more concerned with his own wants and desires.
The older son saw how broken the Father was when the younger son turned his back on him and walked away. He knew how the Father grieved over a son that was lost. When the prodigal returned, he could see how his Father's heart was lifted in joy. But the older son neither grieved with the Father's loss or rejoiced with his gain. The older son could only think of himself, how he felt, what he wanted. Forget the prodigal and forget the Father, what about me?
Do you grieve over those who turn away from God and are lost? Do you rejoice with those who return after they have perhaps selfishly ruined their own lives before hitting bottom and then coming back? Do you celebrate the attention given to those who repent while no celebration is thrown for your years of grinding it out in the trenches?
The Father's heart goes out to all His children but there is a rush of joy over one who was lost but now is found; over one who was dead but now is alive. If you ever had a child who ran away and was recovered or thought dead but was found, you would rejoice too. If you had the Father's heart,you would rejoice over every lost sinner who returns to the Father's house - even that ornery old cuss, that loud mouth biggot or that drunken so-n-so.
Does your heart break over the lost and rejoice over the found? Or, does your heart need tuning, do you need to turn to the Father yourself, seeking "the same mindset as Christ Jesus" (Phil 2:5)?
Jus' Askn.
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