Greetings,
Last week I presented the story of the father and two sons as an example of attributes found in the rooms of our Father’s house. Each of us wears the best testimony, walks in the best inheritance, gives life as the best authority, and eats the food of the best will of God in life. It is about being ourselves and realizing that who we are reveals who God is in this world. We ae to live life with Him in all things. He doesn’t want us to prove ourselves, He simply wants to live with us in all things. He gives us life, breath, and all things and knowing Him makes our lives a celebration of who we are as His family in the earth. It is about a relationship with Him in all things and He having a relationship with us in all things.
When the careless son returned home to his father, he discovered who the father really was. In the story of the father and the two sons, the father demonstrated who he was to the sons. The father’s house was filled with the atmosphere of mercy and forgiveness. The father’s house was filled with genuine care and love. The father’s house was filled the sound of music and dancing, not one of shame or ‘I told you so’ innuendoes.
If we continue to read this story we find that there was also the older son. He appeared to be the faithful son of the house. While the younger son exhibited the testimony of a Gentile, someone who didn’t seek a covenant relationship, the older son exhibited the attributes of a Jew. The oldest son acted like a legalistic Pharisee. He did not rejoice in the celebration of his brother’s return. He was more concerned with what he thought was right than he was in understanding the character of his father. He missed the point of the family. He failed to understand that the family was a house of relationship and love not a house of law and a justice system of who is right and who is wrong. The father’s justice system was one of love.
Luke 15:25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ 28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”
The older son’s view of his father was to do what needed to be done. He saw serving his father as a means of being right and earning the father’s approval. His view was to do what he was told to do. He never expected the Father to be a giver, so he never saw who the Father really was. Because he never saw who his father really was, he existed in the same family, but he never experienced the father’s house. He never saw his father as a dad of love. He distanced himself from his father and only worked in the things that belonged to his father. He never saw relationship with his father as the main point in life. He didn’t realize that all that was the fathers was already his.
While the younger son sought to prove himself, live for himself, gratify himself and satisfy himself; the older son saw life as working for father’s favor, doing what he thought his father needed to be done, and obeying what his father told him to do. This is the way it is when we embrace a justice system of the knowledge of good and evil in our relationship with God. We fail to see who God really is, because we become confused by what we think He is.
This story reveals to us a truth as to the nature of our heavenly Father. He is in heaven, but He wants to abide with us in all things in our lives each day in this earth. All that we are and all that we have are simply rooms in the Father’s house. The Father’s house is one of a Father, sons, and brothers. In the Father’s house, it is right to show mercy. It is right to celebrate forgiveness. It is right to celebrate redemption and restoration. It is right to live with a heart of love and concern for others. It is right for goodness and mercy to follow every family member in every room of the Father’s house.
Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Father, give each of a revelation of who You are. Help us to realize that in Your house are many rooms and that You live in every room. You don’t just own each room, You desire to live with us in each room of life. Your heart is love and Your ways are ways of love. You desire us more than You desire our destinies. Help us to see You for who You really are and give us the grace to want You more than anything of You. We are Your sons and daughters and it is time to live life with You!
Food For Thought,
Ted J. Hanson
Thank you so much to those of you who have been able to contribute to our cause. In this past month I have been in the Netherlands, Ireland, Wales, England, Spain, and again in England. This week I head to Bulgaria and after that I will be in Luxembourg. Without your prayers and support we are limited in our ability to do our part in the place of our calling in Christ. If God blesses you to bless us, please consider supporting House of Bread Ministry. Checks Payable to: House of Bread Ministry, 3210 Meridian St., Bellingham, WA 98225
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