Are you actively pursuing an intimate relationship with God, or have you struggled with being more interested in what He can do for you? Running from God and serving God for selfish gain forsake the most significant reward—a relationship with our Father in heaven. In today’s devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef explores the older son's attitude in the prodigal son's story and how we can be genuinely free from running and striving through a thriving relationship with God the Father.
If you would like more insight into today’s devotional topic, listen to Dr. Michael Youssef’s sermon The God Who Pursues Us, Part 3: LISTEN NOW
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[00:00:00] You are listening to My Devotional, the daily devotional from Dr. Michael Youssef and Leading
[00:00:06] the Way. Lost and Found by Dr. Michael Youssef
[00:00:13] Too often we see men and women who are living like the older brother in the parable of the
[00:00:19] prodigal son, and we can't even tell there's a problem. These people are in church. Some
[00:00:24] of them may even teach Sunday school, volunteer to help run vacation Bible school, or host a
[00:00:30] small group. The older son is really not that different from his younger brother. Both sons
[00:00:36] wanted what their father could give them, but neither was truly invested in a relationship
[00:00:41] with him. The younger son chose the more direct approach. He essentially told the father to
[00:00:46] drop dead so he could have his inheritance ahead of schedule. The older brother was more patient.
[00:00:52] He chose the route of obedience. He would earn the things he wanted from his father. He would
[00:00:58] do all the right things, and that would give him a right to all the things he wanted.
[00:01:04] At the end of Jesus' parable, in the midst of a tremendous celebration to welcome home
[00:01:09] the younger son, the older son is fuming. He tells his father,
[00:01:13] Look, all these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet,
[00:01:20] you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
[00:01:24] There are people like this in churches today, just like the Pharisees who were listening to
[00:01:29] this parable. They believe that their good behavior entitles them to the Father's blessings.
[00:01:34] Not only are they presuming upon the goodness of God, but they're also missing out on the greatest
[00:01:40] blessing of all, knowing their heavenly Father. Sinners often recognize their need for a Savior,
[00:01:46] but those who seem like they have it all together on the outside have trouble seeing their great need.
[00:01:53] Jesus' parable ends abruptly. The father invites his older son to the party. In fact,
[00:01:59] he's pleading with his boy to join in the festivities. But we're never told how the son responds.
[00:02:06] The story ends without his answer. The implication is this. God stands ready to welcome home every
[00:02:13] lost sinner, including those Pharisees and scribes listening to the parable,
[00:02:18] if only they will recognize their need for a Savior. Now is the time to answer this unbelievably
[00:02:26] gracious invitation. Let's pray together. Father, your mercy and grace are astounding. We praise you
[00:02:34] for your faithful love. Help us to see the ways when we're trying to earn favor with you so that we may
[00:02:40] repent and by your grace be truly free in your salvation. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
[00:02:49] If today's devotional encouraged you, we'd love to hear about it. Leave a review and share this
[00:02:54] episode with a friend who needs to hear it. My devotional is a ministry of leading the way
[00:03:00] with Dr. Michael Yussa. To learn more, visit ltw.org today.