What will really change us, so that we are no longer either Prodigals, not Elder brothers, but true sons? It is only as we learn to continually celebrate God's grace and mercy that we really will change the destructive patterns of our life and learn to live as true sons. True sons are those who: turn to God alone to meet our needs - trusting in Him and His perfect love to care for us; live with the right balance of the past - we were dead/lost, and the present - but we are alive/found; understand that it is grace and the abundant love of God that seeks the lost and pays the price to return them as sons. Coming back to grace requires that we see ourselves as found, reminding us that we were lost, and that we can easily wander off, as we sometimes do. It reminds us of the high cost of our rebellion - not to us, but to our Father and to Jesus. It reminds us that if God would sacrifice so much to restore us to Him we can certainly trust Him for our life and happiness instead of turning to other things to meet our needs. It prevents us from thinking we are good enough to do it without His help or provision. It anchors us in a humility that keeps us from self-righteousness and self-condemnation. When I am feeling judgmental, critical of others, feeling cheated because I am not getting what I "deserve", grace brings us back to the truth - that we are unworthy of everything and it is all by His love and kindness!
