What kind of person gets angry when a wretched, broken sinner is restored by the grace of God? Are there really people that selfish?
The answer, according to Jesus, is sadly “Yes”—and they sometimes congregate in churches. In Jesus’ famous story, an arrogant younger brother forces his father to liquidate the family holdings to fund his portion of the estate, yet finally comes to his senses while wrestling pigs for food in a far-off land. Broken by his foolish choices, he makes his best decision ever—to return to the always-open arms of the father. Grace stirs his heart; grace moves his feet; grace gives him words; grace draws him to his father’s arms.
But lurking on the margins is a man turned hideous by his angry rejection of the same grace that brought his younger brother home. Nothing can be given. Everything must be earned. The early bird is the righteous bird. Only the righteous bird deserves the worm. “All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to” (Luke 15:29) he snarls at his father. He cannot join the party, for only grace knows how to truly celebrate.
When prodigals come home; when broken lives get mended; when those most undeserving wear the Father’s ring and eat the Father’s food, graceless people show their true colors.
Don’t be surprised. And don’t let them ever keep you from coming fully home.
Stay in grace. -Bill Knott
Journeys With Jesus: Life Lessons (December 2019)
Search The Obvious: The Book Mark (December 2019)
Daniel Bruneau: God Is A Creative (December 2019)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: Fully Identified (November 29, 2019)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: Grace At The Gates (November 22, 2019)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: The End of Magic (November 15, 2019)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: Can You Handle The Truth? (November 8, 2019)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: More Day To Dawn (November 1, 2019)
Wilona Karimabadi: Beyond Thoughts and Prayers, November 2019
Cliff's Edge: So Thankful For Seventh-day Adventist, November 2019
Michael Yonker: From Disappointment to the Advent, November 2019
Search The Obvious: Reunions, November 2019
Lael Caesar: Prophecy Again?, November 2019
Gerald Klingbeil: Lip-syncing for God, November 2019
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: Cross Purposes (October 25, 2019)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: Staying In The Race (October 18, 2019)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: A Circle of Forgiveness (October 11, 2019)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: Is It Too Good To Be True? (October 4, 2019)
Marvene Thorpe-Baptiste: Light A Candle (October 2019)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: When Everything Changes (September 27, 2019)
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