I’ve always applied Luke 15 to unbelievers. I suppose it’s because the chapter begins with the mention of sinners. But isn’t the primary perspective here God’s delight in recovering His lost children? Jesus was illustrating the joy of finding the one who was once among the many, and He concluded with a classic—the story of a father and his family.
That prodigal child could be a rebellious believer, a one-time active participant in the Kingdom. Jesus was teaching His followers how to respond to brethren who quit, but eventually returned.
As Christians, we know how to welcome new converts. We rejoice at their arrival and share their testimonies. There are churches whose reception for first-timers is first class. Yet we hardly celebrate the restoration of backslidden brethren. Have you ever seen a church hold a thanksgiving service for restored backsliders and present them with gifts?
Should we now reward deserters the way that father did his prodigal son? Religion would suggest not. But that is the unconditional love of a father—the Father—on display. My friend Butch Maltby once said, “Mercy is a river we should never dam.” Yet this goes beyond mercy. This is how heaven kisses the earth. By grace we are saved, and by grace still, we are restored, renewed, and subsequently celebrated.
My reflections here were prompted by comments a dear disciple made. His life challenges compelled me to shut down my planned activities last weekend so I could seek the Lord with him and for him. In the course of our conversation, he said, “I’m tired of being a burden to ministers of God…” That was a loaded statement. I wondered if some ministers had, perhaps unwittingly, expressed through their words or actions their frustration with his unending struggles.
But would this broken disciple feel he was a nuisance to a doctor if he had gone to the hospital? Would he feel he was disturbing a witchdoctor if, out of desperation, he chose to visit one? He would have paid these people and therefore felt entitled to demand their attention. Yet this brother was beginning to feel estranged from God’s ministers, from God’s blessings… even from God Himself.
In Luke 15:28 we encounter the older, spiritual brother. He was obviously an excellent manager—one who would make a good church worker, or perhaps even a pastor, in some churches today. He kept all the rules, worked very hard, and believed in efficiency, vision, and all kinds of principles promoted today. Yet he never understood what it meant to enjoy his father at the deepest level. Consequently, he could not extend that same grace to another.
He was angry and wanted no part of the celebration. He saw no reason to restore what had died. To him, this was a distraction, a misplacement of priorities, and an irresponsible use of family (Kingdom) resources. One good thing, though—he was not pretentious. How often do we make careless comments based on poor judgment? I know I have. And I feel very guilty.
Imagine this father explaining himself—after the celebration!—to his self-righteous son. Isn’t Jesus gently nudging us here to understand His delight in and passion for broken people?
The father’s conclusion was definitive: “But it was necessary to celebrate and to be glad, because this your brother was dead and has come back to life, and was lost and has been found” (Luke 15:32).
Instead of gossiping about weak and broken disciples, let us pray for their restoration and plan a great celebration in anticipation of their return.
That’s what Jesus is doing right now.
Kingdom Exploits With Uche 
It may require surgery, but when the use of my thumb is restored, I will be celebrating!
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The problem with the religious- not the truly grace bathed individuals, is that they tend to be judgmental and harsh toward those who have fallen in one way or another. But the harm is the lack of authenticity of those who judge. The very issues all the human race faces is fallenness, depravity and unfortunate attachments; to the world, flesh and devil.
We all need support, nurture, and the ability to be real (authentic) with one another–to admit we struggle and fall, and we all only have the desire to make the ONE we love proud of bearing His name.
Health spiritually, as far as I am concerned is in the reliance on the provisions that God makes to us, of not only forgiveness and mercy, but also of courage and the ability to rise above the torments of a difficult past. We all together are much more of a blessing to our Father, when we say we need Him than we state to one another, that we are self-sufficient in our own strengths, and not in need of all His provisions toward our wayward condition.
I choose a “grace path”, that is littered with saints who have breathed their last, being faithful, but have also needed the “intensive care” of a master who has been acquainted with all our weaknesses. What can we do but stretch out our hands to Him and say I am needy, fill me one more time to make the next bit of road of obedience in the same direction?
I am broken, infested with weakness, stumbling along to make it for His sake, but I am in love deeply with Master. Is it love or is it discipline that aligns us to be closer to Him? They both do, but let us not forget to also have the other side as much as our discipline–Love!
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True!
Most of us ministers love to criticize instead of uplifting our brethren who have made mistakes.
We always pin point at them as if we have and never will ever make a mistake.
We have always taken on to judge others forgetting that we too shall be judged.
It hurts me, though it took me long to learn this one in particular. The pain of making the same mistake over and over again. This made me realize how much we need these mercies more and more from each other.
This is why God showed us an example which we must follow with hook or crook.
We are always taken up by the miracles, the anointing, the presence of God….and by the time a disciple comes to share part of his experience with us we are so deep that sometimes we think we are too spiritual to talk about it instead of facing the situation with love, mercy and boldness.
Uche this is the real thing, you are in it! In uganda we say “Oli mu kyintu”
I feel an overflow of what to write on this matter….c u next tym!
God bless you.
Martha
Baby sis
Uganda
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