Out of Tune

July 12

(Luke 15:22-30 NIV)  "…. the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. {23} Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. {24} For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. {25} "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. {26} So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. {27} 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' {28} "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. {29} But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. {30} But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!””

Today we discover that the prodigal son had an older brother who was the “good kid”. But even though this older son stayed home and lived a “good life”, his heart was still out of tune with his father’s heart. The younger brother may have sang flat, but the older brother was singing sharp -- and it doesn’t really matter if our notes are sharp or flat, when we are out of tune we will not reflect the songwriter well. These two young men were out of tune with both their earthly father and their heavenly Father. They were just different kinds of prodigals. The older brother was trying to ride on the “high horse” and sit on the “pity pot” at the same time, and that is not a pretty picture. He represents many religious people today who do not truly understand the heart of God. We must learn that there is more than one way to squander an inheritance. Get in tune with God. Learn to love who God loves. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day