The last time I blogged, it was about the Prodigal Son coming home to His Father. This week, the Lord is speaking to me about another side of this Parable... the older brother.

The parable of the Prodigal Son can be found in Luke 15:11-32. The older brother is introduced in verse 11, and his role is developed in verses 25-32. The older brother was in the field. He was doing the right thing, serving his father and working hard. So what happened to make the older brother go from good guy, to bad guy in just five verses? I've always heard it taught that the older brother was jealous of his prodigal brother, getting all the attention when he returned home. I don’t think he was only jealous. I believe this brother was discouraged too.

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." -Galatians 6:9

I believe that he grew weary in the field. He lost sight of his purpose. He lost heart.
Verses 29-30 are the voice of a discouraged brother. "I have served you well, so where’s my reward?" Even tough you do the right thing consistently, those who don't sometimes seem to get more attention.
I love that the father met his oldest son exactly where he was at. "Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours." Luke 15:31. Everything that the Father has is ours too! Amazing! That’s why we serve Him. We have all we need in Him. The older son didn’t need a goat or calf, he had his father's love all along... Like the older son, our Father, meets us exactly where we are at, we have His love and our reward IS Him!

Psalm 126:5-6 says, "Those who sow in tears will reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." We have to believe this promise... our tears will water the harvest. We have to go out to the field and say "I will serve You, I will serve You, I will serve You,"... dispite any tears.
My brothers and sisters, are you discouraged? Continue to follow your Heavenly Father. Continue to sow Spiritual seeds through Prayer and reading the Word. Your tears are watering the Harvest. You will not be disappointed with your efforts. One day you'll return from the field with sheaves.
Jesus is worthy of your blood, He is worthy of your sweat, and He is worthy of your tears. He is the only One who is worthy. You are in the field for Him, wherever your field is. You sow for Him, and there will be a harvest too.

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:1-5
Please don’t be discouraged. Please don’t lose heart! Don’t grow weary while doing good.... perservere!

Pray for all of us here at Calvary Chapel Kings Lynn. Pray that we wouldn’t grow weary while sowing in the field of Kings Lynn. Pray for us because being on the mission field is hard, but worth every sacrifice.

Jesus is worth every tear that I have shed in the past three years of waiting. He is worth leaving my friends and family. He was worth leaving a church that was my home. He is worth every illness, every hurt, every trial... The Lamb is Worthy of the Sacrifice, Amen!

God Bless You always, all my love, Madi