SHADYSIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Since you are the God with us, you know each of our stories better than we do.  Some have the testimonies of prodigals, who made some huge mistakes and committed grievous sins before repenting and coming home to your waiting arms.  Others are like the Apostle Paul, who could claim that before he knew Jesus Christ, he was already “blameless” when it came to “righteousness under the law.”

Really?  Was Paul actually blameless in his old Pharisee days?  Well, you know.  I doubt there are many who could say that, but there are lots of elder brothers who come pretty close.

The striking thing is that both the sinner and the righteous have to give up their past “because of Christ.”  You are only interested in your son’s righteousness, and we can only get into your loving arms if he brings us there.

It makes sense theologically, but it has to be awful for the elder brothers to lose their good lives in order to have a beloved one.  Amen.