Trudi mentioned on her status today the story of the prodigal son and how wonderfully the son repented and the father took him back. A success story we all dream about.
One thing many people fail to notice too is that there were two prodigals in that story. The one that stayed and the one that left.
The older one who stayed did it out of duty. He was jealous for the repentance of his younger brother and refused to come to the celebration when his father wanted him to come. He refused to acknowledge the repentance of the younger brother, he had bitterness in his heart.
Many of you have experienced this in your families. Your siblings saw the sin in your life as you were younger, but will not see the change Christ made in you after trusting Christ.
There is jealousy that keeps these siblings in bondage. As long as they refuse to see the difference in you, the miracle of God's salvation in you, there cannot be a relationship.
There is no peace and joy in those who love to hang onto the sin that used to be but has not been for many years. The gossip continues, the lie that keeps them bound up in their own sin of pride may be an indication that they are not born again.
Born again believers are excited when someone has changed and when their life has demonstrated one of service to God.
We see this choice to believe the old in non-believers, but it is very hard to understand in those who claim to be "Christian." I have even had non-believers express the change in a new believer, how much more should a born again believer notice it.
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 "…16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"
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