"I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men." (Luke 15:19)
When we honestly confront the empty parts of ourselves, we may reach the same conclusion. We may not feel at all worthy to be called His son. So, like the prodigal, we may propose to be viewed in a lesser role; merely as a hired man, forced to earn his keep rather than as a son with the privilege of relationship to the Father.
"I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men." It was a prodigal plan; confession and proposition. It was never fully executed. Upon seeing the son from a distance, the father ran to him and embraced him. According to plan, the prodigal son confessed, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son," (Luke 15:21) But before he could offer his reasonable proposition, the father interrupted with a command to the servants to fetch the finest robe, a ring for the finger, sandals for the feet and a fatted calf for the belly. From head to toe, inside and out, the man who was prepared to be a hired worker was lavishly reminded that he was instead a privileged son; and never anything less. Though he was absent from the father, his sonship was never revoked. He was merely lost and now he has been found (Luke 15:32).
It is that way with our heavenly Father as well. Do we deserve anything? No...and yes. We don't deserve anything because our heavenly Father does not accept us as hired men - we can't earn our salvation and we can't earn His affections or grace. But, in a different sense, we deserve much more than we're often prepared to accept; not because of our doing, but because we are sons of a loving and lavish Father (I John 3:1) who longs to embrace us and dress us with robes of honor and rings of relationship. It is an honor reserved for those who serve Him (John 12:26) for He has made us "a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned [us] with glory and honor." (Psalm 8:4)
The next time you're tempted to feel defeated, second rate or unworthy, remember that you've only lost your way, not your position. Return to the Lord of truth and let Him embrace you and clothe you with the robe of His provision and with the family ring. You are a son of the eternal King. Live like it!
"I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men." It was a prodigal plan; confession and proposition. It was never fully executed. Upon seeing the son from a distance, the father ran to him and embraced him. According to plan, the prodigal son confessed, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son," (Luke 15:21) But before he could offer his reasonable proposition, the father interrupted with a command to the servants to fetch the finest robe, a ring for the finger, sandals for the feet and a fatted calf for the belly. From head to toe, inside and out, the man who was prepared to be a hired worker was lavishly reminded that he was instead a privileged son; and never anything less. Though he was absent from the father, his sonship was never revoked. He was merely lost and now he has been found (Luke 15:32).
It is that way with our heavenly Father as well. Do we deserve anything? No...and yes. We don't deserve anything because our heavenly Father does not accept us as hired men - we can't earn our salvation and we can't earn His affections or grace. But, in a different sense, we deserve much more than we're often prepared to accept; not because of our doing, but because we are sons of a loving and lavish Father (I John 3:1) who longs to embrace us and dress us with robes of honor and rings of relationship. It is an honor reserved for those who serve Him (John 12:26) for He has made us "a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned [us] with glory and honor." (Psalm 8:4)
The next time you're tempted to feel defeated, second rate or unworthy, remember that you've only lost your way, not your position. Return to the Lord of truth and let Him embrace you and clothe you with the robe of His provision and with the family ring. You are a son of the eternal King. Live like it!
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