(This is a combination reflection from my large group talk to the AACF Davis group as well as the Sunday sermon).
Discovery: In Luke 15, Jesus tells a trio of stories that essentially tell the same thing. Bill Hybels and Mark Mittelberg summarize it best in their book "Becoming a Contagious Christian."
1. Something of value was lost.
2. An all out search was called to find this lost object.
3. When this lost object was found, there was a joyful celebration.
Jesus is also addressing three groups of people as he tells these stories. To each group He is challenging them to understand God's heart.
1. Pharisees: In vv. 1-2, we see them looking down their noses and judging Jesus for His behavior. By telling them these stories, Jesus is wanting them to change their hearts and attitudes.
2. The sinners and tax collectors: Jesus is telling these people (in the presence of the religious leaders) that God has been eagerly seeking after them and desires for them to be found.
3. The disciples: They are learning to follow after God. Jesus makes it clear that they should be associating with the least, the last, and the lost with the intention of sharing the Good News of Jesus.
Jesus wants to find and welcome the lost and He wants those who follow after God to do the same. In addition, he warns us to not be like the Pharisees who want nothing to do with this.
Application: The character of the older son is based on the Pharisees. They are smug in their self-righteousness and have a lack of compassion towards "sinners." Ultimately, the Pharisees miss the whole point of God's grace. Similar to the older son in the parable, they are so self-absorbed and spiritual twisted that they can't see the miracle of their lost brother being alive and safe.
This is my challenge as well. Am I so self-absorbed that I can't see the true nature of God's grace? I love how God's grace is unconditional and how it is always accessible to me. I love the fact that even though I fall short of God's glory, His love reaches and extends to me no matter what I do or where I am. I love how God's grace is so precious to me.
The problem however is that I am called to extend this same grace to others. In particular, I am called to extend this grace to people who sin against me. This same grace that is unconditional and without limits is the same grace that I am called to exhibit to everyone. This grace isn't always as precious to me.
The challenge of this passage is that the story of the older son is left unresolved at the end of the parable. How does he respond to the father's heart? Does he go back in and celebrate with his "lost" brother or does he stubbornly stay outside and refuse to participate in the celebration. The bigger question is, "How will we respond?"
Prayer: Help me not only appreciate Your grace but to live it out. Teach me during this Christmas season to extend grace to members of my family that I have a hard time extending grace to. Deliver me from my Pharisaical heart and attitude!
