Everyone knows the story of the prodigal son, which we read today in Luke 15. The message is encouraging...the younger son wastes everything he was given by his father and then returns with a knowledge that he is unworthy but the father loves him anyways.
There's a book I encourage you to read called "The Prodigal God", which was written by Timothy Keller. He wrote his book based off a sermon from Dr. Edmund Clowney, and he takes a different approach to what we can learn from the parable of the lost son.
His book considers how we often overlook the older brother in the story. What does he do when his brother returns to ask for forgiveness? He refused to forgive his brother and he resented his father for not recognizing him with the fanfare he gave the lost son. There is a correlation between the younger brother and the tax collectors and sinners who understood Jesus' message...and the Pharisees and teachers of the law were like the older brother, who represented the moral and obedient who never turned away from their self-righteous thinking.
The thought provoking (although not new) concept of the book is that, through this parable, "There are two ways to be your own Savior and Lord," says Keller. "One is by breaking all the moral laws and setting your own course, and one is by keeping all the moral laws and being very, very good."
A repentant heart who asks forgiveness of the Father is celebrated by the angels in heaven and is worthy of our support as believers in Christ. A self-righteous sense of entitlement is not the same as truly knowing and following Christ.
Sounds like a good book.
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