I was thinking about the stories Jesus told in Luke 15 about the lost things...and how it had always bothered me that the lady searched for the coin and the shepherd for the sheep, but that the father had not gone off searching for the prodigal son...then I had a 'news flash' and it dawned on me that maybe the true 'lost son' in the parable wasn't the rebel who went off and partied and later came home but that the true 'lost son' was the older brother who held back and wouldn't come into the party! And then I realized that the father DID go out and search for him! He DID come to look for him, He didn't just leave him outside to sulk..
It meant so much to me because I have had legalistic tendencies in the past and sometimes can still act that way..and I have sometimes felt Jesus was always just mad at people who have been like me..and I have felt ashamed and left out of the celebration, just like the older brother out sulking, but probably secretly wishing he could be lavished with attention and given a party, too...And I realized that Jesus loved the Pharisees! He was, through all his stories, so often pleading with them to come into the party! That the party was for them, too! I love that the father in the story didn't criticize, get angry, or punish the older brother for his terrible attitude. He understood he had been living under a false idea of his place in the family, thinking it had to be earned, not knowing that he could have a celebration any time, not knowing how loved he really was already without him doing a thing..
I felt so loved and happy thinking these thoughts with Papa, knowing that He really does love those of us who have tended toward being Pharisee types! I am ashamed of how I was once legalistic and prideful. But God isn't ashamed of me, He came out to me and invited me, even me, into the party.. Thank You, Papa, that you love the rebellious younger brothers and you love the self-righteous older brothers too!
You don't leave any of us in our pain and confusion, no, You come and minister GRACE and acceptance and unconditional love to us all! No matter what we do, think, or get confused about, You always come for us and woo us back into resting in Your arms!