Daily Devotion

Dear Berean TEAM and Friends –

Luke 15:25 says, “Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.”

Jesus was dealing with the attitude of the Pharisees and scribes toward lost sinners (v. 1-2). By telling a story about the prodigal son, He wanted to show that it was proper to rejoice over repenting sinners (v. 10). The reaction of the elder son can speak to two types of people today: Those who are lost and have never trusted Jesus as their Savior (Rom 10:9-10). And those who are saved, but have the same attitude as the elder son – they refuse to rejoice over what God is doing because it wasn’t done their way (2 Tim 3:2). While the younger brother has been in a “far country” wasting all his money (v. 13), the elder son was busy “in the field” doing his father’s business. Outwardly, he seems like a good son and in good fellowship with his father (2 Cor 10:7). But he also pictures the Pharisees to whom Jesus is speaking to (v. 3). They looked good outwardly, but there was a problem within their hearts (Mt 23:27)! You may be a good moral person; you go to church and pray. You are always doing good works (Titus 3:5). But Jesus could look into your heart and see your lost condition (1 Sam 16:7). A good person might be religious and still be lost (Mt 7:21-23)! Being baptized or spending time in a church does not make you a Christian, any more than spending time in a bakery makes you a bread! You must be born again (Jn 3:3-7)! Salvation is redemption from sin through the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 2:8-9). By the way, there was no record that the elder son entered the feast (v. 28). If you are lost in sin, will you stay out or come in? If you are in (2 Cor 5:17), but things aren’t right, will you stay outside and pout like Jonah (Jon 4:5), or will you get things right with the Lord? God bless you!

-Pastor Melito Barrera