Jesus gave the parable of the two sons which is known as the parable of the prodigal son. Isn't it interesting that by calling it the parable of the prodigal son makes us concentrate on one son and neglect the other yet Jesus gave us the parable to teach us from both sons? Whenever you think of this parable, how often do you think of the other son? We've been sidetracked and we miss some wonderful lessons we could have learnt from the other son.
The first son asked His father to give him his inheritance and went to a far country to spend it. This is a picture of a backslider who after being blessed by God turns away from God.
This we see all around us. Someone seeks God when they are poor but when they are materialy blessed, they backslide. They run away from the Fathers house to live as they like. They don't abide and seek God on how to use what He has given them but just waste it. They now begin living a life of sin and do things they couldn't do when they were first converted. They now speak lies. They start watching immoral videos and comfort themselves that they have a good reputation in the church. Know that your private life and walk with God is ten times more important than your public testimony and ministry. Jesus lived 33 years and did ministry for only 3years. 30 years was his private life before God. 30÷3=10.
Are you more concerned about your public testimony or are you more concerned about your private life? You should be ten times more concerned about your private life, that is, your thoughts, your inner attitudes and motives and your heart more than what people think about you. You can be a backslider inside and still have a good reputation outside. You can be privately feeding with the pigs, indulging in sexual immorality, in mustarbation and such things but you are known as a good brother or sister in Christ. You can be one of the church leaders and at the same time the biggest backslider. Your inner life is in turmoil. There is no peace, there is no joy in life.
The interesting thing is that the father did not come looking for the son but waited until he got tired and decided to humble himself and acknowledge His sin against God and his father and go back and was willing to take the humble position of a servant. The moment the father saw him come id the time he ran and welcome and embrace him and made a big celebration.
God is still waiting for you to get tired of living your hypocritical life. A double standard life is life without peace and joy.
The second son when he came back, asked from a distance and was told that the other son had come back and he got very angry. His father came and welcomed him but he complained that he had obeyed him in everything and yet he was never given a kid to celebrate with his friends. His true condition was revealed then. He could not bear seeing his father blessing the younger son more than him. He said that he wasted his wealth with the prostitutes. He never saw him but imagined the worst possible evil against his younger brother. He refused to join in the celebration.
This other son though he never wasted his life but was still serving his father was a backslider. His heart was full of murmuring and complaining and evil imaginations. He desired to be given honour before his friends, he wanted to be given a position but didn't have. His service to his father was grudgingly but only the outside he was faithful.
How do you serve God? Are you always murmuring and complaining in your heart because of many unanswered prayers? Are you always imagining evil about others?
We see here that those who openly indulge in sin can easily repent and turn back but those who sin privately and have a good reputation in the church do not easily repent. They are more concerned about what people will say rather than what God who sees them in private will say. The devil also sees the secret things you do in private and you will be powerless against his attacks unless you repent.
Remember that your private life is 10times more important than your public life.
You are blessed to be a blessing
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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo
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