Weekly Musing - Pat

“You are always with me and all that I have is yours.”

Those words are on repeat in my mind. They are found in one of the three parables in Luke 15, the Prodigal Son.

A wealthy man has two sons. The younger, assured he was a son, demanded his portion of his inheritance. The father honored the request and the son set off on his adventure free, no rules or obligations, with the world at his fingertips.

The older son believing himself to be wise, watched and decided to stay put. Choosing the “better”role of an obedient servant. He believed his work would prove his worth that he deserved the inheritance and title “son”.

The younger son partied hardy and found himself broke and out of options. He lowered himself to feeding pigs. His stomach ached as his heart longed for their food. It was in the pigpen the truth hit and he decided to return home to be a servant in his father’s home.

Although it does not say, I believe the older brother was also living in a pigpen, the pigpen of performance. The younger in the pigpen of indulgence. Both created by ego (the “flesh”) both traps and both deadly!

Time passed as the father watched with anticipation for the return of his younger son. He saw him while he was still a long way off and ran to him. The son, dirty and smelling of pigs, found himself embraced and kissed by his father and spun around with great delight and joy. The son’s planned words were ignored. Instead, he was given gifts and a party.

The older son still living in the pigpen of performance was out working in the field. Because he believed himself a servant and not a son, when he heard music and dancing asked a fellow servant what was happening. When he heard, he refused to join the celebration. Preferring anger, jealousy and judgment to rule his heart.

The father came out and pleaded with him to join in the celebration, hear the response:

“. . . these many years I have been serving you. . .”

“ . . . I have never transgressed your commandment . . .”

“. . . You have never given me . . .”

“But as soon as this son of yours (notice he didn’t call him brother) came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.”

“And he said to him, ‘Son, (he called him by his true identity) you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.’”

Wow! Did you see it? I was overwhelmed with a new understanding, there were no “ifs”, “when”, or any other obligation required in that promise!

It reminds me of this: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

And this, “. . . God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them. . .” 2 Corinthians 5:19.

And this, “. . . love keeps no record of wrongs. . .” 1 Corinthians 13:5.

What if the “all that I have” is His Love? A love that transforms, forgives, reconciles, resurrects, provides and sets free?

I was the older brother living in the pigpen of performance wallowing in anger, unforgiveness, resentment, jealousy, bitterness and judgment when His love found me and set me free. Join me and hear Him say to you today, “Child you are always with Me, and all that I have is yours”, with no “ifs”, “when”, or any other obligation required!