Them

Luke 15:11: And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

I never noticed that word THEM before. Their father divided unto THEM his living. In those days in Israel, the oldest son got the biggest inheritance. I believe their father gave the oldest son much more than he gave the prodigal son. And he gave it to the oldest son because of the younger son*s foolish request but he did not appreciate that he got more.

Read Luke 15:21-32.

As many times as I have heard and read this story I have assumed that the older brother was made to wait until his father died to receive his inheritance but that was not the case. I believe that the younger brother always knew that his father loved him else he would not have dared to ask for his inheritance. He knew that his father loved him else he would not have returned home. I wonder if the older brother ever fully knew and believed that his father loved him. I am saddened because I doubt that he did. But then I wonder, do I fully know and believe how much my Heavenly Father loves me? And do you?

Ephesians 3:17: That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Galatians 5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

I believe that the more that we know, experience, possess, depend upon and enjoy the love of God, the more of the other fruit of the Spirit we will possess, especially the second fruit on the list, the joy and the strength that comes with that.

Nehemiah 8:10: Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Want to be joyful and strong? Seek the love of God and when you have found it, or rather when His love has found you, keep yourself in it.

Jude 1:21: Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Care to discuss Them with Ron?

He'd also like to hear your prayer requests