I heard an incredible message earlier tonight by Reggie Joiner (founder of the reThink Group) that is keeping me awake…it was on the story of the prodigal son. I just talked about this story Sunday and how we need to have the heart of the Father in this story in stead of the “older brother.” Reggie spoke on the importance of reaching a prodigal generation. He posed this question…”what would happen if we treated every prodigal in the way a father would treat his son? Here are the distinctions between the father and the older brother…

• the father is PREOCCUPIED with whoever is missing…the older brother is PREOCCUPIED with himself…
• the father operates from a context of forgiveness…the older brother operates from a context of shame...
• the father throws parties (celebrates life change)…the older brother throws fits…
• the father confronts “older brother thinking”…the older brother criticizes “loving father thinking”
• the father leaves the light on and the door open for as long as it takes…the older brother turns off the light and shuts the door.