The parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 talks about license, legalism, and the Father’s heart.  You’ll find it in Luke 15:11-31.

The younger son said to his father, “Give me my portion of the property that is coming to me.”

The son gathered his money from sale of his portion of the property, traveled to a far country, and squandered it on riotous living. This was license.

He ate food the pigs ate after he lost all his money. He came to his senses. He reasoned, “Things were so much better at home. I’ll return to my father. I’ll confess I sinned and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” The younger son returned to his father.

The younger son’s behavior turned from license to legalism, performance-oriented behavior in order for his dad to accept him. 

The father saw the younger son approach him. He had compassion. He embraced him and kissed him.

The son said the very words he rehearsed when he decided to return home.

His father called for celebration! “For my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”

The older son embraced legalism, too. He got angry and refused to join the party. His father came out and encouraged him to join the festival.

The older son told his father, “I served you for many years. I never disobeyed your command. Yet you never gave me food, that I may celebrate with my friends. Yet your other son redeemed your property and squandered his living with prostitutes, and you killed the fattened calf for him!”

His father replied, “Son, you are always with me, and all I have is yours. It was right to celebrate, for your brother was dead and is alive. He was lost, and is found.”

This father’s heart shows our Father’s heart. Our heavenly Father possesses a heart of love. He’ll let us go our own way. It grieves him. Our Father celebrates repentance and our returning to him.

The Father doesn’t cast us out. Removing ourselves from the Father’s presence is our decision. We grieve when we feel convicted by our actions and come to our senses.

The two sons show both sides of legalism: 1) Thoughts of unworthiness based on our behavior, and 2) A sense of entitlement based on our performance.

The Father loves you and me based on our relationship with him through his Son Jesus, not based on our performance.

My life changed so much for the better since I learned this lesson more than 20 years ago.

Some run from the Father. Some perform for the Father’s acceptance.

The Father wants you to live in an intimate relationship with him. Where do you see yourself today?

Richard Szalecki (“Sah-LEH-key”) will celebrate 50 years in the Lord this August. Now 71, he serves as a writer, Bible teacher, and published author. He recently joined MensGroup.com as a contributing writer and is also active on LinkedIn. Richard currently writes about the dangers of striving to earn God’s acceptance and will soon begin sharing messages centered on the Father’s heart

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