Monday, April 15, 2024
Are you familiar with the phrase “prodigal son”? It comes from the Bible, but even if you didn’t grow up in church, there’s a good chance you’ve heard it before.
The story of the prodigal son always makes me stop and reflect on my own life—the end tends to hit me like a gut punch. We’ll be unpacking the whole story throughout the week, but today I want to look at the context in which Jesus told the story.
Luke 15:1-2
1 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!
The religious elite of Jesus’ time loved to complain about the people Jesus associated with because they didn’t measure up to the religious elite’s standards. If that mentality sounds familiar—if you’ve felt unwanted or unwelcome in “religious circles”—I’m so sorry. That’s not what church or Christianity was ever meant to be.
The Pharisees were interested in religion—this idea that they could earn God’s favor by doing more good things and less bad things. They believed God wanted something from them, and that when they were obedient, they would receive good things in turn. Their view of God was transactional.
Jesus, on the other hand, showed us how God really feels about us. He welcomed those who were labeled sinners because he wanted to be in a relationship and do life with them. No matter what your story is, whether you relate more with the Pharisees or the “sinful people,” Jesus wants to do life with you too.
While the religious elite looked down on those they labeled sinners, those same sinful people drew near to Jesus. In your relationships, are you becoming more like Jesus, or more like the Pharisees?
Religion breaks relationship, but when we remove the legalism from following Christ, we get to experience a life-giving relationship with him, and help those around us to experience it as well.
Questions:
Who do you relate more to in this story—the religious elite, or the sinful people?
How can you resemble Jesus more in your relationships?
Next Steps:
Learn how you can experience God more. Text “MORE” to 419-419-0707.
Think about how you feel most connected with God (in nature, listening to worship music, praying, etc.), and spend 10 minutes each day this week connecting with him.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I am so grateful that you welcome me, even when I don’t feel righteous or worthy. Help me to keep from falling into a religious view of our relationship. May I reflect your light and love in my interactions with those around me.
Series Theme Verse:
Romans 6:14
Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.
This post was written by Payton Lechner, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.