‘All That I Have Is Yours’

Luke 15:31
31... ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.

After running a few errands for his parents, a little boy went to his father and said, “I know why you and mummy had me.” “Why?” asked his father. “So that you guys would have someone to run errands for you!” exclaimed the boy.

Like the little boy, do you see God as a Father who demands obedience and service from you? Have you ever felt that unless you obey Him and keep all His commandments, you don’t have a right to be blessed by Him?

Jesus shared the story of the prodigal son to show how some of us call God “Father” and yet don’t know His heart. There are two sons in this parable. We know what happened to the prodigal son, but we can also learn something about the older son. This is what he said to his father when he discovered that his father had thrown a party to celebrate the return of his irresponsible, spendthrift brother: “Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.” (Luke 15:29)

Now, this son believed that his father had brought him into the world to serve him. He saw his father as someone issuing commandments to him all the time. And he saw himself as someone who had to obey those commandments to enjoy his inheritance. But the truth is that the father had already given him his inheritance. (Luke 15:12) The father even reminded him lovingly: “Son… all that I have is yours.” And I am sure that that inheritance included more than one goat!

Have you, like the older son, failed to understand your Father’s heart? Your heavenly Father already gave you a rich inheritance in Christ when you became His son. He wants you to know that you have received the Spirit of sonship. (Romans 8:15) So call out to Him, “Abba, Father!” and know how much He loves you. Because you are His heir, all that He has is yours to enjoy today!

(taken from The One Thing-Daily Devotional by Pastor Joseph Prince)

Ruth 3:18

Then Naomi said, "Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today."

Dear Mister God,

Thank you for giving us the bible. I was reading the Story Of Ruth today just because it shared the same name as my flat mate. I was curious. And I'm glad that my curiosity has taught me something precious today.

My flatmate Ruth and I are the same age and both waiting to meet the right man to marry. Sometimes we fret over things like "why don't some one just set me up on a date", "will he be too short, too old, too ugly" etc.

The bible Ruth may understand our predicament for she too had a rough time in her life when her husband died and Naomi, her mother-in-law, told her to return to her own mom and try to re-marry for there may be no future for Ruth if she chose to stay behind with the aging Naomi. But Ruth, loyal and faithful, chose to stay with Naomi.

Both Naomi and Ruth trudged along and worked in the fields, with little expectations other than making ends meet. But as God planned it, Ruth ended up working for a close relative of Naomi's called Boaz. Boaz was a religious and righteous man who got to know about Naomi and Ruth's misfortune. He took it upon his duty to marry Ruth so that they may continue their family line. Ruth and Boaz would eventually become the grand-parents of David - ancestor of Jesus.

The story of Ruth doesn't sound terribly romantic but it is a story of hope and patience. Hence I pray in Jesus name, that Mister God, you will remove all self-serving desires from the hearts of all the singles in the world. Soothe our nerves, let us know in our "knower" and believe in our "believer" that YOU ARE GOOD and YOU cause everything to work together for the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purpose for them.

Thank you, Mister God.

Lots and lots of love,

P
xoxo