Two Sons, Two Paths | Thursday

Fruit(Full) Week 2 | Self Life Side Effects

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Read The Daily

“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him…” (Luke 15:20)

The Self Life in Galatians chapter 5 can play out in many different ways but usually fluctuates back and forth between self-indulgence or self-improvement.  Jesus told a story about two sons. One chased self-indulgence, running off to a distant country to live recklessly. The other stayed home, embracing self-improvement, trying to earn his father’s approval. Neither son was happy. The first hit rock bottom, and the second simmered in resentment. If you chase self-indulgence and pleasure then at some point, you feel defeat.  However, if self-improvement and perfection is your game and you’re successful, you feel elite.   If you know the story, you know that both of those start with self but end in frustration. Both paths left them unfulfilled and frustrated. If you don’t know the story, then take a few minutes to read Luke 15 today.  It’s an amazing story.

Both self-indulgence and self-improvement start with self, but end in frustration

But the true beauty of the story isn’t in the sons; it’s in the father. He didn’t wait for the younger son to grovel or prove himself. He ran to meet him with open arms, restoring him to the family. And when the older son refused to join the celebration, the father went out to plead with him too. The father’s love wasn’t conditional. It wasn’t about what they did; it was about who they were: his children. This is the heart of God. Whether you’ve been running toward pleasure or striving for perfection, He’s not waiting for you to fix yourself. He’s waiting to remind you that you’re already loved, already accepted, already part of His family.

Prayer for the Day

God what are you  showing me?  What am I going to do about it? 

God help me to see one person that I can serve through a kind word, random act of kindness, or simple gift today?

Make sure you complete the reading or comment today.

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