August 31, 2023: Offended By The Father

"And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.' ”” (Luke 15:31–32, ESV)

It was the Father's heart that offended the older brother. The Father's heart will always offend the religious heart. Father's heart is a heart of freedom, grace, love and celebration. The older brother's heart is one of works, jealousy, competition and compliant rebellion. He is measuring his life against the life of his brother. He outperforms his younger brother. But the Father is not looking at performance; He is looking at the heart of His son that has come home. 
    
Clearly, we can say that religious people will always be offended by God's gracious heart. Religious people, or those with hints of religion still remaining in them, will always be offended by God's gracious heart towards sinners and carnal Christians. We forget God's heart when we forget the words freedom, grace, love, and celebration. Yes, we know there is a hell, and God punishes sin, but these things do not excite God's heart; they grieve Him. God rejoices when a lost, weary soul comes home! God rejoices when a carnal Christian experiences freedom. 
    
Let us not be offended by God's gracious heart. Instead, let us embrace it. Let us embrace freedom, grace, love, and celebration—and rejoice with the Father when a son comes home! Bring on the fatted calf!