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“In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.” (Ephesians 1:7)

One Sunday, while discussing the parable of the Lost Son, we tried to put ourselves into the story. “Which character do you identify with the most?” our teacher asked.

Most of us identified with the older brother. When his father made a huge welcome home party for his younger runaway son, he refused to come into the house. “It’s just not fair!” he stormed. “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. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him.” (Luke 10:28-30)

The older brother’s rule was reward for service. “If anybody deserves a party, it’s me,” he thought. “I’ve worked for it. I’ve been faithful.” His father, though, operated on a totally different rule: that of grace and unconditional love.

Sadly, the older son, although he was living in a household of love and grace, did not accept it. At any time he could have asked for a party for himself and his friends and the Father would have gladly given him a fattened calf. All he had to do was ask. But he was so focused on service that he missed the Father’s love.

Aren’t we like that too? We’re also caught up in the performance treadmill: We have to pray more, work harder, reach more people…then God will be pleased with us. All the while God wants to lavish his grace upon us not for what we do but for who we are — His child!

God’s grace is not fair but it’s all-encompassing.

Father, thank you that your grace is greater than all our sin. Forgive me when I push away your love and grace wanting to do it my own prideful way. Make me more aware of the riches of Your grace which you want to lavish upon me today. Amen.

Question: How do you deal with life when it seems unfair?

About the Author:  Helen Grace Lescheid