“The older brother was angry and refused to go in (to the party being thrown for the broken and back-home younger brother). His father came out and said to him…’Son, you’re always with me, and everything I have is yours.’” Luke 15:28–31
Heavenly Father, we’re all familiar with acrostics, such as RIP = Rest In Peace. Or TGIF = Thank God It’s Friday. Or FMO = Fear of Missing Out. But I hereby create a new one that might be tattoo worthy. EIHIY = Everything I Have Is Yours—5 words you spoke to a smug, self-righteous, heart-disconnected, beloved son of yours. Abba, no one loves like you. No one loves us like you.
As with the “older brother,” you ceaselessly confront our self-centeredness, Gospel-amnesia, and ingratitude. You say to us through the Scriptures: “My child, I love you with an incomparable, everlasting, unwavering love. Nothing can exhaust my mercies or deplete my grace for you. I don’t endure or “put up with you.” I greatly delight in you, am committed to quiet your heart with my love, and will never stop rejoicing over you” (Zeph.3:14-17). Abba, dismantle and expel our unbelief.
For everything that belongs to you, you have given us in the Gospel. Because you have hidden our lives in Christ, we have all the legal rights and personal delights of your firstborn Son, Jesus. We already possess the fullness of forgiveness, the righteousness of Christ, and a place in your family and heart.
And you haven’t just secured an inheritance for us (1Pet.1:3-5), you actually call us your inheritance (Eph.1:11). Our destiny is life in the new heaven and new earth, full Jesus-likeness, wiped tears, and redeemed pain. Thank you, Abba. Hallelujah for EIHIY, and So Very Amen.