Luke 15
January 21, 2022
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.”
I’ve always keyed into the father’s love toward the younger brother, running to him and welcoming him home after his sin (v20-24). But in this reading, I’m struck with the father’s love for the older brother - that the father leaves the party to go find his rule-following, self-righteous son- in order to plead with him to come in. Rather than only having enough love for selfish, law-breaking prodigals - the father loves self-righteous legalistic pharisees, too. The father loves both sons, and longs for both to live with Him.
Lord, thank You for your great love - that the reach of Your redemptive love extends to prodigals and pharisees! You know I’ve been guilty of being both. I’m so grateful that Your love reaches both younger and elder brothers. Give me Your heart of compassion for both - not just those who are irreligious and clearly antagonistic toward Your ways - but also for those who are religious and self-righteous. May I ‘plead’ with them - like You did with the ‘Pharisees and teachers of the law” (v2) - so that they might see Your great love and long for ‘younger brothers’ to come home to You.
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
