HAND ME DOWN
What it means to be CHOSEN
June 14th, 2023
Colossians 3:12-14, ‘So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.’ (MSG)
one Prodigal
Luke 15:25-30, ‘Now, the older son was out working in the field when his brother returned, and as he approached the house, he heard the music of celebration and dancing. He called over one of the servants and asked, “What’s going on?” The servant replied, “It’s your younger brother. He’s returned home and your father is throwing a party to celebrate his homecoming.” The older son became angry and refused to go in and celebrate. So, the father came out and pleaded with him. “Come and enjoy the feast with us (because your brother was once dead and gone, but now he is alive and back with us again. He was lost, but now he is found v 32). The son said, “Father, listen! How many years have I worked like a slave for you, performing every duty you’ve asked as a faithful son? And I’ve never once disobeyed you. But you have never thrown a party for me because of my faithfulness. Never once have you ever given me a goat that I could feast on and celebrate with my friends as this son of yours is now doing. Look at him! He comes back, after wasting your wealth on prostitutes and reckless living, and here you are, throwing a great feast to celebrate him!”’ (TPT)
Have you ever done the right thing, and the one who instead did the wrong thing, received your reward? It probably happens all the time. I bet that is why there is a parable in the Bible to provide guardrails for us to navigate within.
I have been hearing about the Prodigal Son my entire life. We talk far less about his older brother. He was the ‘good son’—I imagine, the ‘straight A’ student. Probably aced all his classes, said ‘Yessir’ and ‘No, sir’ when spoken to, carried all the bagged groceries for little old ladies, and held doors open for the women and pulled out their chairs when they went to sit down. He worked the land beside his pa, staying up all night when a stubborn calf refused to come, and spent tireless hours making up for the fact his little brother was such a loser and ran off to squander their wealth and drag the family name through the mud he had rolled in. Is it any wonder this boy has had it up to ‘here’ when he learns the rowdy celebration is in honor of that same errant son?! I can imagine it—can’t you?
It seems a picture of someone forgotten and left behind and taken advantage of, huh? A holey and worn hand-me-down. He did the endless hours, dried the countless tears on his dad’s cheeks, listened with patience and spoke with passion when the subject introduced itself daily about his brother running off and abandoning the family, making the name a mockery. And here that same wayward kid, who lost himself in reckless living, has captivated his father once again—what more is there that he will take? He has already stolen and wasted so much!
Our Heavenly Father sees the shattered shards of the oldest kids, the overlooked kids, the forgotten ones. He has so much grace and love to mend those broken pieces. But He also holds wisdom with fragility in His palms because I think He is cautioning us to guard our hearts and not fall victim to the clutches which judgement can hold us in. Pain is a dicey thing, and it can carve us up into unrecognizable remains; the lingering bitterness burning holes in our stomachs and our souls. Remember, He is for you and not against you, and He places such a huge value on those being overlooked and He shadows you with provision and praise. Even when someone less deserving gets the ribbon, remember:
you are His REMNANT
