Scripture to Read: Luke 15:25-32
Today we see the jealousy and bitterness of the prodigal son’s older brother. Jesus uses the older brother as an illustration of the Pharisees and scribes. Though the Pharisees and scribes had a head knowledge of God and God’s Word, their hearts were still unrepentant of their sin of greed, jealousy, bitterness, self-righteousness, and more. We see the older son’s first reaction in Luke 15:25-28. Note at the end of Luke 15:28 that the father comes out to plead with his older son to come and celebrate. The father lovingly reached out to his older son, even though the older son was eaten up with his anger. The older son then begins to justify his sinful actions and attitude in Luke 15:29-30 by telling his father how he has served his father, and yet the father never threw a party for him. The father’s reply is awesome in Luke 15:31. The father reminds his older son that everything that belongs to him also belongs to his older son, but the older son never enjoyed it because his heart was far from his father’s. The older son’s unrepentant heart kept him from enjoying all the father was telling him was his (read Ephesians 4:18-19). So, by the older son’s choice to be jealous and angry, he missed celebrating new life. Not only did the older son miss out on celebrating the new life of his younger brother, but the older son missed out on experiencing a new life for himself as well.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about people choosing to miss God and His gifts because of their own choices?
2. How can you guard against missing all God has for you to enjoy in and through your relationship with Him?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!