Everything I Have
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How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:1-3 NIV
The story is told of a man who wanted to travel to America. He saved for many months to purchase a ticket on the ship. Since the journey would take weeks and he didn’t have extra money for meals on board, he purchased a block of cheese and a box of crackers. Each day he passed the beautiful dining hall, watched the numerous passengers enter, and smelled the most incredible aromas. He would then return to his room and eat his cheese and crackers, which were carefully rationed to ensure there would be enough.
At the end of the trip, a steward pulled him aside. Noting that the man had never entered the dining hall, the steward asked if the food had not been to his satisfaction. The man explained that he was sure the food was exquisite, but he hadn’t the funds to pay for it. The steward stared back in disbelief. “But sir,” he said, “Didn’t you know that the price of the ticket included every meal?”
Too many Christians have come into the Kingdom of God – they’ve asked Jesus to be their Savior, Jehovah God to be their Father - yet they don’t live as citizens of the Kingdom, enjoying all that has already been purchased for them.
The prodigal son’s older brother was like that (Luke 15:11-32). As the eldest son, he not only had the rights of sonship, but also the blessing of the birthright. Yet where do we find him? He was in the field working with the servants. When a party began in the house, he went to the servants to find out what was happening. His response to his father reveals that he was serving out of a need for approval rather than a heart to serve.
“Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!”
“My son,” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”
Imagine. Everything the Father has is ours because of the work of Jesus on the cross. What blessings have you been living without?
Heavenly Father, your goodness is beyond compare. Your beauty is without measure. Please help us to know You more and more, and to progressively understand Your work on the cross. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
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