[Thursday's Devotional] - The Prodigal’s Brother

The Prodigal's Brother '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 fatted calf for him!' Luke 15: 29-30 [NIV]   Perhaps you can relate to the older brother? – He does make a very valid point!  There is no contest about which brother behaved more correctly.  This is one of the problems of reconciliation.  How can one discourage the kind of reckless behaviour shown by the younger son, if you welcome him back with open arms and don't make an example of him by punishing his wrong-doing?   I wonder if the father had given his elder son a young goat, whether he would have 'celebrated with his friends', perhaps he would have seen that as a waste.  Interesting that he disowns his only brother by referring to him as 'this son of yours'.   There is always a risk of jealousy where brothers are concerned, especially if there is different treatment of two sons.  Just think about the trouble Jacob caused by giving the special robe to Joseph (the same Jacob who tricked his older brother Esau out of his father's blessing).  Just think about the murderous jealousy Cain had for his brother Abel.   I pray that we will learn to love our brothers more, that we will look for reasons to give thanks and celebrate – rather than wallow in the misfortune of others.   Dave MacLellan (originally published in 2003) Twitter Website Copyright © 2017 St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a subscriber to the Daily Devotionals Our mailing address is: St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church 1a New Street Rugby, Warwickshire CV22 7BE United Kingdom Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list Want to be added to our mailing list? - sign up here!