Anchor for 3rd April 2020

Light gives direction, it keeps us from stumbling in the journey of life (John 11:9, John 12:35). We have been meditatively studying the life of the elder brother of the prodigal son, to learn vital lessons on how to relate and respond to brethren who have fallen away from the Faith.

Our Anchor scripture is in Luke 15:11-32: The Parable of the Prodigal Son.

Lesson 3
Through the Mercy of God, the prodigal son came to himself having been humbled by the consequences of his sinful ways and decided to return to his Father (Luke 15:17-21). He returned, and the Father was glad to receive him back. He was restored and there was a great celebration in his honour.

The prodigal son’s elder brother returned from the field and when he enquired, he was told that his younger brother had returned back home, hence the feast to celebrate the return by the Father. But his response to this good news was surprising; instead of being happy that his younger brother had returned and was restored back to the Faith, he was angry and bitter that his younger brother returned and the Father made a feast to celebrate his return. He even went further to give his Father reasons why his brother should not be celebrated. In effect, the elder brother did not really care about the spiritual state of his younger brother; as far as he was concerned, his brother may have as well died in his backslidden state and not return back home! Also, he did not see a need for the celebration and feasting at the return of the prodigal son, who wasted his Father’s resources.

The lesson to draw from this is that we should take delight when fallen or backslidden brethren, through the mercy of God, are restored to the Faith. It should be our joy and delight to encourage them to be established in the Faith and integrate with other brethren in the House of God, instead of pointing accusing fingers at their misdeed which Heaven has forgiven and forgotten. We should therefore be careful in judging others because he that thinketh he stands should take heed lest he falls – such falls may even be worse falls!

Our common enemy is the devil, so the fall of my fellow brethren should not bring joy, rather, it should place a responsibility on me to see to their restoration back to the Faith and service to God.

PRAYERS:
✅ God help me to take delight in the restoration to Faith of others, and should be a part of re-establishing them in the things of God;

✅ May I never be a victim of the things I am condemning in the lives of others;

So help me God! Amen!!!