The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘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. Luke 15:28-31
Forbearing Father, though we’d never gloat about our “many years of slaving for you” and though we certainly can’t claim a record of perfect obedience to your commands, nevertheless, we acknowledge there are times when our attitude is just as disgusting as that of the older brother. Forgive us and free us from the grossness of our ingratitude. We grieve this hideous disconnect in our hearts.
You’ve taught us that we do our best repenting not by groveling, but by preaching the gospel to our hearts, so here goes. Father, you are constantly running towards us in the gospel—inviting us, imploring us, pleading with us to get on the dance floor of your mercy and grace. You bid us enjoy the symphony of reconciliation; to sing the liberating songs of redemption; to make very merry to the glory of God. You are constantly saying to our grumbling, complaining, self-righteous faces…
“My children, you’re always with me because I’m always with you. Nothing will ever separate you from my everlasting non-wavering love. I don’t merely delight in you, I greatly delight in you. I rejoice over you with the singing of an impassioned groom for his beloved bride. Everything I have is yours. All your sins are forgiven, including your gross ingratitude.”
“I’ve declared you to be righteous in my beloved Son. I’ve hidden your life in his. I’ve begun a good work in you that I will bring to completion. One day you’ll be as lovely and loving as Jesus. I’ve made you co-heirs of the new heaven and new earth. You’re destined for an eternity of perfect relationships, perfect health, perfect society—perfect everything. Come, let us rejoice and be glad. How can we not?”
Father, we repent, but don’t relent. Keep beating down our ungratefulness with mighty love offensives of the gospel. Purge every expression of thanklessness from our souls—envy, discontent, and a spirit of entitlement—all graceless attitudes. So very Amen, we pray, in Jesus’ peerless and praiseworthy name.