At the bottom of the cross

GOD ALWAYS HAS MORE TO GIVE, HE NEVER RUNS OUT

Today's post will be a little shorter, but none-the-less still what I hope to be meaningful. In one of my attended bible studies recently, we read from Luke 15:11-32. This story may be familiar to some and for those of you who are stumbling upon this blog of mine by happenstance, Welcome and enjoy! I will post the verses below so that you can easily follow along. There are quite a lot, but trust me, it's worth the read!

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to[a] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[b] 22 But the father said to his servants,[c] ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

• In this parable, you will notice that the older brother is judging the younger brother because he felt that in comparison, he was the "better son". We need to realize that we have no right to judge others, because only Christ can judge us. (Now, this does not include the judging between Christians as a way to keep another accountable, that is another devotion for another time.) I believe the keyword to remember in all of this is "HUMBLE". We need to humble ourselves before the Lord and before others. 

•  Another thing I want everyone to take away from this is that at the bottom of the cross, we are all on the same level. No one person is higher than another. When the father looks down at us, he sees his son. 

Side Note: In Matthew 18:13 in The Parable of the Lost Sheep Jesus says, "And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off." If only the older brother had this in mind while he was judging his younger brother for getting a party after he returned home from being "lost"...

Question: What are some ways that you try and keep yourself humble?