I truly believe that we are in a season of prodigals coming home.  Individuals who have been living in selfish indulgence will be returning to the love of our Father; whether they have been sitting on pews or on a bar stool.  Therefore, I praise God for His redeeming love that is going out to so many of our friends and family members.

In this, there are a few items that must be taken care of within the existing body of the church.  I was sent to Isaiah 58 a couple weeks ago to be reminded that in our churches there are issues that need addressed.  There are some who have been distracted in ministry.  They seek honor and personal glory within ministry in the church.  They love Jesus; they love the Father, but have been distracted from knowing who the Holy Spirit is.  They have become more concerned about obedience to their perceived laws of God, which are the ways of man.  Following Christ has become a series of things you do or do not do; things you say or do not say.  It has become a religion and not a way of life.  They have lost the humility of the love of God and desire others to do what they do.

In Luke 15 we see a small portion of discussion about the son that stayed on the farm.  I see this story as someone who sought obedience to perceived laws for what would be gained personally.  This “obedient” son lost his compassion for his brother because of this distraction.  The one important part of this story that we must understand is that it is a story where Jesus has placed God the Father as the father of both sons.  We must also understand that the “obedient” son who stayed home was working in order to receive an inheritance.  He was seeking to inherit the estate when his father died.  Do we forget that God our Father will never die?  This obedient son was distracted by a personal gain that would never come because the inheritance was already received.  The father said, “My child, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours” (Luke 15:31, NASB).  The inheritance is being with the Father; this is the fullness of life.  The inheritance was already given, but distraction prohibited the son from recognizing what was already placed before him to obtain.

The inheritance of the Kingdom of God has already been given as Jesus stated in Luke 17:21.  This is what Jesus promised in John 14.  We as the church need to understand this as there are some in our churches who are preaching legalism, seeking a later inheritance for personal gain.  Receive the inheritance now in being one with the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, in the humility of love.  May our churches have a spirit of repentance flow through them so we can truly love each other as Jesus instructed us in John 15. 

I ask you to pray the prayer I pray often, “God search my heart to see if I am being obedient to the ways of man or to Your ways; whether I am seeking approval of man or of You.  If I am seeking even a small portion of Your glory, God, please convict me so that I may repent.”  Then wait patiently for His answer and act upon what you hear.  If these within our churches do not repent, then my only prayer is that these returning prodigals meet the Father before they run into the other son.

This I speak for His glory alone.