TEXT: LUKE 15: 12;29-31
"And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give
me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided
unto them his living. . .And he answering said to his father,
Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed
I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest
me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as
soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living
with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he
said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have
is thine."
One of the beutiful response of the father to the elder son is found in vs 31b&c, namely: "...Son, thou art ever with me..." whatever does this statement mean? Its import shows that the son stands with and takes side with his father. He sees as the father sees and he is at the disposal of the father. He is always with the father: no wonder while his brother was living a riotous life, wasting his substance on harlots, he was in the field serving the father. His father did not refute his claims in vss 29-30 He boldly told his father that he has served him for many years...so, the father saw and viewed this disposition as "..thou art ever with me..."
Friends, service to God actually places a man at God disposal. Serving God simply means a man is with God. No man van boldly says he is on God's side until his service to and for God is actual and real. Moses asked the whole nation of Israel, "who is on the Lord's side?" He commanded that any man that answered this question in the affirmative, should come to his side: the Bible says all the sons of Levi moved to Moses side. Moses then told them to confirm their stand with God by using their swords on their brothers, which they did.
So to show sympathy and empathy for God, is to simply give Him service. The elder son said, "... Lo, these many years do I served thee..." to this the father said, "...Son, thou art ever with me..." A man that does not serve in the body of Christ cannot and should not claim closeness to God...to stay within the reach of God is seen in our service to Him. A man that serve God is in God's vie...to God, he is in sight and on site. Not to participate in the mystic body, by getting involved in nourishing the body of Christ, is to cut oneself off the view of God. Whenever we serve the body of Christ and humanity, we actually endear ourselves to angels and men.
What is God's verdict about us? Can He say to us, "...thou art ever with me?" He says that about and to any man that can rightfully and boldly tell Him, "... Lo, these many years do I serve thee..." How long have you served God? Are you serving God? When will you stop religion and start serving God? To be useful in the hand of God guarantees many a blessings, chiefest of which, is the presence of God.
While this unfolding of the father's agenda were been done to his elder son, the younger son was back at home celebrating and basking in his new shoes and appearance, yet here the father left all celebration to attend to a man of service. His elder son, a man that serves was not happy, this drew the father out of his house and celebration. God can do anything to please a man that is of service to Him.
He does not ignore the grief of a laborer. Yes a lost son has returned, but a laborer...a servant son, must not be ignore for that. So, the Bible says, "... therefore came his father out, and intreated him." Amen! God would always honour every son that diligently does Him service.
One more thing before we close this meditation is that if this elder son had not taken this step, he would not have come into the revelation of his possession. He got angry at his father for throwing party on a son who wasted his estate on harlots and refused to enter the the house, this drew the father out. Until this time, he never knew that his service to his father was noticed and commendable and that all that his father had are his.
Some action would and can "drag" heaven to our aid! When we become firm and sincere with God, He takes us to a place of revelation. General messages and prophetic declaration cannot give us the needed push in life, only a personal and pointed pronouncement can do that. When last did God said to you, "...Son...all that I have is thine!" This kind of direct and pointed declaration that assures a man of his sonship and possession cannot be done in celebration mood, with the atmosphere fill with the aroma of "peper soup and stew"...wine and plenty helpings.
This kind of assuring and personal utterance, can only be heard in a quiet and still environment. The father must be convinced that we are not happy with the status quo! Until we show anger toward situations, revelation, liberating revelation would not come. Revelation precede revolution. Revelation is the forerunner of revolution and transformation! To be continued.