Where Do You See Yourself?

I'm often reminded of the story Jesus told that we have titled "The Prodigal Son." There is so much to it that I don't believe it can be exhausted. This morning, as I was thinking of something to post on facebook, these thoughts came to me:

The conversation you have within your head will reveal the lack of trust you have in the Fatherhood of God. Why is that we believe the Lord is more willing to take on another hired hand than to receive a son? How did we get to the place in our thinking where we believe that being remorseful and repentant means that we only get "less than status" with the Father? The story of "The Prodigal" is so compelling. We see ourselves in the two sons rather than in the heart of the Father. And that is probably the greatest tragedy of our thinking. You were created for sonship not servitude.

There are many things that I have already pointed out about this story on the blog. The fact that even the prodigal is referred to as a son should matter in our thinking. It should give us a glimpse into the heart of the Father. The youngest son, even when he was far away and wasting his inheritance, was always a son. The older brother, even though he stayed at home and became jealous of the Father's willingness to extend such mercy, was always a son. The differences between these two boys is how they viewed their relationship with the Father.

The youngest son believed that his Father would take him back...maybe...as a servant.
The older son believed that he was with his Father...somehow...through his service.
Both of them missed out on the reality of the Father's heart for them.

The Father in this story represents our Heavenly Father. We have been told that. But do we believe it?

Who has imagined GOD as a loving Father?
Who has believed that He would be so liberal in His relationship with us?
Who has ever thought that He would accept us on the basis of what is in His heart rather than what we could do for Him?
Who ever conceived of Him the way that Jesus portrays Him?

The irony, I believe, in all of our thoughts about this passage of Scripture is that we still miss the point of the story. And the point of the story is that there is never a moment that you are not in His heart.

YOU are in the heart of the Father as He looks out across the plain waiting for you to come to your senses.
YOU are in the heart of the Father as you stay and work.
YOU are in the heart of the Father regardless of what you have done or are doing.
Both of these boys received a revelation that day.
The youngest son realized that even though he walked away, the Father always carried him in His heart.
The elder son realized that it didn't require working to create a better relationship. All that the Father has was already His.

Don't miss this.
We get so caught up in our performance. We think that we are more acceptable to the Father through our service or through our groveling. The reality is that He has already made His mind up about us. Jesus is God's mind made up about humanity. Whether we have wandered away or we have stayed close, the Father sees us for who we really are. There may be some things that need to change. There may be some attitudes that need to be adjusted. There may be a mindset that needs to be broken through. But none of that affects Him. He embraces the reality of this moment. One son who needed to know he was loved for who he was. Another son who needed to know that he always had the Father's heart.

Stop trying to find yourself in the boys.
Find yourself in the heart of the Father.
You were created to be a son, not a servant.
Enjoy the difference.

*Feel free to look at the story for yourself in Luke 15:11-32. Just change the way your read it. He's ready to embrace you.*