Week 32: THE OLDER BROTHER

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Luke 15:25-32

The Lord brought the older brother from the story of the prodigal son to my remembrance Sunday. For I identify with him - loyal & faithful, but focused on performance. Where do I get off thinking I’ve earned anything by my loyal obedience?!?!

In my task-oriented nature, it’s easy to lose sight of relationships. Sometimes I’m so busy doing for God that I find my quiet time alone with him becoming more transactional - prayer requests & checklists - than relational - abiding & resting in his presence.

A couple of years ago the Lord gave me a vision. In it, I was above the clouds at sunrise. The sky was brilliant pastels of yellow, orange, pink, and purple. I saw a figure of a man coming towards me on a cloud. As he got closer, I saw a jovial young man with long curly locks of hair. He was strong. Radiant. Handsome. It was Jesus. We began to fly together. Soaring just above the tops of the clouds. I could see our shadows below us on the surface of the clouds. It was beautiful. But I wasn’t content. I shot above the earth’s atmosphere into outer space. It was dark and cold. He did not follow me there. When I returned to the warmth of the place above the clouds, He spoke to me, “You can come hear any time you want.”

My prayer to the Lord: “Help me to not grow restless just being and not performing, Lord!”  

I sense the Lord speaking: “I want you to enjoy being with me, not so engrossed in doing for me that you lose sight of the reason I created you.”