“But we should be glad and celebrate! Your brother was dead, but he is now alive. He was lost and has now been found.” (Luke 15:32 CEV). The story of the Prodigal son illustrates the faithful forgiveness and restoration to relationship that God, our Heavenly Father, affords all of us. It also reveals the envy or even jealousy we sometimes feel when much is made over reaching the lost and seeing them come to Christ.

Oftentimes those who have been in the church for years begin to complain or criticize, or ask, “What about me?”, when so much effort is put into reaching the unchurched and getting them connected to the faith community. As Luke 15 illustrates, Jesus reminds us of three powerful things: 1) Every effort and all diligence must be made to seek and find what is lost, 2) When what is lost is found it is right to celebrate and rejoice, and 3) Those who have remained consistently faithful in the house<</em, should not only join in the celebration, but have the satisfaction of knowing that their Heavenly Father sees their service and will bless them abundantly for their faithfulness.