Attitude Adjustment

This past Sunday during the sermon at church, God got a hold of my heart and revealed something in me that I didn't want to see or admit to. I believe God always has something for me to learn every week, but sometimes He sends me a message at just the right time that shakes me to my core and challenges me to change. The message was from Luke 15 and a story that everyone is familiar with. The Prodigal Son. I have read that story countless times and the focus is always on that younger son who comes home. However, I never really paid attention to the older son. The brother that didn't want to come into the house and celebrate his younger brother's return.

I was challenged with the question: Am I the younger son who needs to come home or the older son who needs to come in?

I did take extensive notes but I'll just give you the highlights ;)

* I've been telling God that things are not fair. Just like the older son told his father it wasn't fair that the the fatted calf was killed for the younger son who had disgraced and shamed their father. A celebration for him? You must be joking. I am the one who has stayed here this whole time and done everything you asked me to do. Why are we throwing a party for him? The speaker pointed out and I found to be so true: "We are only interested in fair when we're the one who is injured." That's not how God operates and I know better.
* I've also been telling God I deserve things and that He never gives me anything. Wrong. The father in the story tells his older son that everything he has is his son's for the asking. He has not because he's asked not. Why am I trying to earn God's favor? God has already given me way more than I deserve. There's not enough room to list them all here but for starters: Jesus. Salvation. Being born in the USA. My awesome husband. A job I love. An amazing and supportive family..... Really? God has never given me anything. Really??
* I have been choosing to celebrate others, only when I feel like it. How dare I not celebrate when the lost are found. When someone who was dead (in their sin) is alive in Christ. The Bible says the father explained to his older son that it was "fitting" to celebrate. They really had no choice, they were compelled to celebrate the miracle. Of course this passage is referring to salvation, but I was convicted of not celebrating other things in people's lives as well. You know, when people get things that I don't have or things that I think they don't deserve. Instead of being annoyed that others are celebrating, I need to come in and join the party. The part I find so sweet, is that the father comes out of the house, he leaves the party to come plead with the older son to come in and celebrate. He doesn't chew the older son out, he begs him to come inside. That's how God is though, right? He is going to gently call me to come, He's not going to force it. I've been the younger son before. I've been the one who has realized my sin, repented, come home and celebrated. How wrong is it for me to not join in the celebration of others who have come home. The party is not complete until everyone is in the house!

So I'm praying that God will help me to not be a younger brother who has forgotten what it is like to experience the love and forgiveness of my heavenly Father. I want that same feeling for others and I want to come in and join the party when they come home!!

I'm marking Sunday, May 29th, 2011 as a day in my life when I chose to make an attitude adjustment! Thank you, Lord!