A ring and a robe!

My favorite 'Jesus' story is the prodigal son. One of the most amazing things in the story, to me, is that the wild and disobedient son ends up with all the blessings (family ring, designer clothes, and tail gate party) and the hard working, obedient son doesn't! What's up with that?

Guess what? Blessings aren't released to us because we obey and serve, or even because we are part of the 'family.' They come because we choose to hang out with 'Abba'! Isn't that amazing?

I don't have to earn blessings (in fact if I think that is true, and work hard to 'deserve' blessings, I will end up missing out on them, and resenting those who get them!) Blessings are released (in abundance) to those who simply value the Father enough to want to hang out with him. Wow! What a great deal that is. Sounds like 'good news.'

So, let's give up working hard and being diligently obedient in order to please the Father, or even to get blessings, and just choose to 'hang out' with him ... keep coming to him 'as is' and just receive the blessings that flow from him to his children who love him with all their hearts.

ps - Of course we will want to serve and obey - because we are delighted to, not because we 'have to' or to gain Father's favor!