"Now his older son was in the field.
And as he came and drew near to the father's house,
he heard music and dancing."
And as he came and drew near to the father's house,
he heard music and dancing."
Luke 15:25
A man returned to his home church two or three times a year when visiting relatives in the city. They had a new pastor, and the old church had a new atmosphere. As he was leaving the church, he said to the pastor, "This church is different." The pastor was puzzled and asked, "What do you mean?" He said, "When I have visited here before, the worship service was like being in a courtroom. It was somber. No one smiled. There just wasn't any joy. Today, it was like being at a party. The place was filled with the joy of the Lord."
There was joy at the father's house. His wayward son had come home. He admitted that he did wrong. The father wasn't interested in punishing him. Oh no, he was ready for a party. His long lost son had come home. The house was filled with music and dancing. Jesus said, "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:10). Yes, there is a party at Father's House when any of us as sinners come to repentance.
The older brother came home to find a party. He wasn't happy about it at all. He was self-righteousness. Father hadn't given him a party. Now, his sinful brother finally comes home and it's party time. He represents the Pharisees (Luke 15:2). They were self-righteous legalists who desired to judge and condemn others. May God deliver all of us from that attitude. "Christ receiveth sinful men, even me with all my sin. Sing it o'er and o'er again, Christ receiveth sinful men!" As long as sinners repent, and God continues to forgive all of our sins, let the people of God party! Join us at Father's House this Sunday for the party.
Father, deliver us from self-righteousness through Christ our Lord.
