The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Luke:15:11-32

kjv@Luke:15:11 @ And he said, A certain man had two sons:

kjv@Luke:15:12 @ 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.

kjv@Luke:15:13 @ And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

kjv@Luke:15:14 @ And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

kjv@Luke:15:15 @ And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

kjv@Luke:15:16 @ And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

kjv@Luke:15:17 @ And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

kjv@Luke:15:18 @ I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

kjv@Luke:15:19 @ And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

kjv@Luke:15:20 @ And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

kjv@Luke:15:21 @ And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

kjv@Luke:15:22 @ But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

kjv@Luke:15:23 @ And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

kjv@Luke:15:24 @ For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

kjv@Luke:15:25 @ Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

kjv@Luke:15:26 @ And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

kjv@Luke:15:27 @ And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

kjv@Luke:15:28 @ And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

kjv@Luke:15:29 @ And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

kjv@Luke:15:30 @ But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

kjv@Luke:15:31 @ And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

kjv@Luke:15:32 @ It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Today's notes:

Context:

Before - Luke:15:8-10 The Parable of the Lost Coin
After - Luke:16:1-15 The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

Study Resources:

dict:tcr Inheritance

Notes:

In spiritual terms our inheritance comes in sanctification by faith kjv@Acts:26:18 and is incorruptible. Both men in this parable have claim to an inheritance therefore must be sanctified by faith, sons of the living God. They represent two types of problematic believer.

One decides to live off his inheritance here and now without having to serve his father's interests. He leaves thinking to only serve himself which not only leads him to riotous living. Eventually the pursuit bankrupts him leaving him to serve a foreigner for slop. The land becomes as a famine because he is not operating in his father's incorruptible inheritance only his own present spiritual net worth.

The other stayed put with his father loyally serving on the grounds of his father's estate never legally transgressing (he presumes) while never fully knowing his father either. His problem is in the consideration of his returning brother and his jubilant father's reaction, both of which he takes offence at and distances himself from. He sees things in terms of future possession and reward and a narrow self elevating justice rather than in terms of people and souls and his father's best wishes for family and redemption. As a result it becomes nearly identical to the younger's problem operating in his own present spiritual net worth.

In the context that we are already being schooled on, the two problematic sides of belief come to light. Of late we have observed the narrow door, the sorrow for Jerusalem, the sitting at the humble seat, the byways being searched for accepting guests, the cost of discipleship, lost sheep needing a shepherd, lost coin of value. And now two lost sons, two opposing sides of religion, the strict and burdensome weights laid upon by the one that still doesn't lead to the better knowledge of the Father (even to the point of taking offence in HIM) verses the aloof often frivolous indulgences of the other that leads one outside of the inheritance into the service of a foreigner. Somewhere in the middle of all this is the better approach towards faith that Jesus is pointing us to. What could it be that He wants us to see?

Let's think in terms of inheritance again. What is it? Our Father is never going to die, HE is eternal, it is not something that we are going to have of HIS in HIS absence. The inheritance itself is beyond any value, whether two thirds to the elder or one third to the younger what difference does it make as either is beyond all imaginable or tangible value. Is it not the Father's presence itself? Why then should one think that they can cash in on it minus HIS presence and not find themselves in a spiritual famine? Why then should one think that they are better deserving of it because they have worked so hard to earn it, but in that effort disconnected himself from the Father's full will? There is surely the inheritance when a dear one departs and then there is the inheritance one receives by a dear one's presence; one inherits HIS viewpoint, HIS moral character, HIS influence/purpose/design/resource. It is a wealth that both men are overlooking in their opposing pursuits and so likely are we.

Key Messages:

Declaring Certainty

kjv@Ephesians:2:1 @ And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

kjv@Ephesians:2:2 @ Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

kjv@Ephesians:2:3 @ Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

kjv@Ephesians:2:4 @ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

kjv@Ephesians:2:5 @ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

kjv@Ephesians:2:6 @ And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

kjv@Ephesians:2:7 @ That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

kjv@Ephesians:2:8 @ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

kjv@Ephesians:2:9 @ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

kjv@Ephesians:2:10 @ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Further Resources:

Comment Board:Luke:15:11-32
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Luke:15:11-32 rwp@Luke:15:11-32 mhcc@Luke:15:11-32
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index