As I mentioned yesterday, I am reading a book about The Prodigal Son, by Henri Nouwen. In his book, he uses the picture by Rembrandt about the Prodigal Son. In this painting we see the Father who is an elderly man, placing his hands on the Prodigal son that has come home. The son is on his knees before his father, and the father is holding him tightly and his hands of blessing are on his son. The Prodigal son is dirty, with torn clothes, one sandal is broken and the other one is off. The son is at home with the father.
A short distance away in the painting is a man that is described as the elder brother. He is standing with a large distance between the father and the prodigal son. He is standing erect with his hands folded. He is dressed in royal colors, but with a scowl on his face. In the book, Nouwen talks about how many times we are like the older brother as Christians. We have this idea that we are better than the sinner, and have a right to all that God has for us! He says in the book - that we really have two prodigals in this story. One realized it and went home to the Father, and the other one does not even see his need for the father!
The reality is we all need to be home with the Father. He loves us and wether we are a prodigal in the world or a prodigal in the church, we need to be in a right relationship with the Father!
We have a father that is waiting for us!!!
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