One Gracious Blessing after Another

Most believers know the story of the prodigal son that JESUS told in Luke 15 and we understand the parallel truth that it reveals to our lives as children of GOD – that when we as prodigal sinners repent our Heavenly Father offers the same heart of forgiveness to us as the earthly father shows the prodigal son. 

There is, however, another important revelation at the end of JESUS’ story.

The Father and the Elder Son

The elder son is angry. He is envious of the welcome home party the father is giving for the prodigal brother and refuses to take part in the celebration.

‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’  

This father’s rebuke to this bad behavior could not be more tender and generous: ’My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. …..’” Luke 15:29-31

We know well the father’s heart for the prodigal son by what he did for him. But what transpires between the father and the elder son reveals a love that's probably more wonderful and one that also reflects our Heavenly Father’s heart and attitude towards His children.

The children of GOD have unbroken fellowship with their Heavenly Father – ‘you are always with me.’

We can sense how deeply the earthly father in our story cherishes the closeness he has with his elder son. How much more would our Heavenly Father, whose love for us is perfect, want to have us close to Him?

GOD’s presence with us lets the rest of the world know that we are chosen and favored by Him and that He is pleased with us. The Old and New Testament scriptures confirm this in several accounts:

I am the one who brought them out of the land of Egypt so that I could live among them. I am the Lord their God. Exodus 29:46

Then Moses said, “For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.” Exodus 33:15-17

I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.” 1 Kings 6:13

So the Word became human and made his home among us. John 1:14

 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.” John 14:16

Jesus replied, “My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.” John 14:23

“…the Spirit of God lives in you.” 1 Corinthians 3:16

Because of the daily cares of life, we are not always conscious of the presence of GOD but, awake or asleep, GOD’s Spirit is always with His chosen people. He never removes His presence from us.

All that is the Father’s belong to His children – ‘...and everything I have is yours.’

A good father provides for and leaves an inheritance to his children, so does our Heavenly Father, and He owns it all!

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength. 1 Chronicles 29:11-12

Everything in the heavens and on the earth is the LORD’s to give according to His good will and pleasure. GOD gave His all to us when He gave us that which He valued most, His own Son.

Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else? Romans 8:32

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

All that the Father has belongs to the Son (John 16:15) and everything He created He did through JESUS and for Him (Colossians 1:16).

If we have the Son we have the Father and we have all the riches that the Father and Son possess!

“Everything belongs to you, and you belong to CHRIST, and CHRIST belongs to GOD. 1 Corinthians 3:22-23.

Every child of GOD, without exception, is called to enjoy the fullness of our Father’s presence and His limitless abundance.

With one gracious blessing after another eternally available to all, we have no need to envy one another (Galatians 5:26.)

When we celebrate GOD’s goodness in each other’s lives we are loving one another as CHRIST loves us – proof to the world that we truly are His (John 13:34-35.)

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Our Mighty GOD and Father, we give YOU all the praise, all the honor and all the glory! Thank you for being our Abba Father, who would always be there to care for us. We are so grateful that we can never escape YOUR presence and YOUR favor is always with us. Help us never to forget that to each of us YOU have given all of the richness of YOUR abundance through YOUR Son; all that we need for life and for godliness we have for the asking through JESUS. Create in each of us a clean heart so we can live in the spirit of love like JESUS does and never envy. Father, cause us to delight in YOU as YOU delight in us and let this be the one true desire of our hearts. We pray and ask all things in JESUS’ NAME. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile