Of all the communities on the earth, the Christians have the best reason to celebrate. We are the only ones assured of a wonderful future in the courts of our King. We are the only people on earth who can be redeemed from every sin we have ever committed. Hallelujah!
The prodigal son continues with the father exceeding all hopes and expectations of his younger son who had been to the bottom of the pit and returned full of shame and sorrow. The father was excited to be able to celebrate because the lost son had returned to the family.
Many people in church understand being a servant, but not being a son. So many work for the Lord, go to the mission field, clean the church, attend meetings, do good works. All out of their servant heart. But some are trying to impress God, work their way to Heaven.
Many of us have doubts in our lives as to what God will do for us. Often when people are suffering, for whatever reason, they feel abandoned by God. But if we take time to listen to His Spirit, we will discover the reason for the trials we are facing.
Let us look again at this verse. In Biblical times it was normal to talk about heirs as sons. Way back in the Old Testament while the Israelites were still wandering in the desert God made it clear that daughters could have an inheritance in the same way as sons.
If you were adopted by a loving father in the earthly world, or if you have had a loving natural father, who was present throughout your childhood, you will know a daddy who has lifted you onto his knee, listened to your stories, shared your joys and calmed your fears.
The frailty of man is wanting to be independent and we often live our lives without God until something goes wrong. Then we blame Him and expect Him to put it right. It seems that the Lord has to allow difficulties in order to reveal more of Himself to us.
This verse is a serious warning from Jesus. It is also a bit scary! Many of us thought that all we had to do was to repeat a certain prayer, be a bit emotional, go to church from time to time, and then we would have our passport to Heaven!
When we think of our inheritance in Jesus, we know that all that is His is ours. So we inherit the Kingdom of God. But maybe we need to be a bit more childlike to take hold of what is rightfully ours, if we continue to live as His children.
Many martyrs have brought people to the Lord at their moment of death. The way that we live and the way that we die can be very persuasive in helping others to see that we are children of God. And through that they can be persuaded that God is real.