“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,  but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

Luke 15:25-32

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Grace is a gift — God’s closeness to us is pure grace. But as this parable reveals, we can miss the fullness of it. In the story of the Prodigal Son, Jesus shows how both sons waste the grace of their father’s love, whether through rebellion or resentment. In our new series, Wasted Grace, Pastor Ryan Schlachter invites us to see where we might be missing God’s grace, and the consistency of identity as his children.

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What is the context

• Jesus shares this parable while teaching to disciples, Pharisees, and community members. 
• They may have expected judgment on the wayward son, but Jesus’s story challenged their views of God’s mercy.

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We Forget We’re His Children

“Son” 

• Both sons see themselves as servants rather than as beloved children. 
• The older son’s sense of duty blinds him to the joy of his true identity.
• We are indeed called to serve God, but our service should flow out of our identity as his sons and daughters. 

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We Forget That He’s Near

“You are always with me”

• The older son is blind to this proximity to his father and has grown resentful and distant 
• God can be right beside us, but if we’re so focused on what’s wrong or what we lack, we miss the chance to draw close to him.
• We waste the grace of access to his presence. No reward can compare to our proximity to the Father made accessible to us through Jesus.  

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We Forget We Have What We Need

“And all that is mine is yours”

• The older son fears his father’s grace toward his brother takes something away from him, blinded to the truth that he already has everything he needs
• We waste grace when we worry or compare ourselves to others; God’s resources are limitless, and His love is unending. 

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Additional Resources

The Practice of The Presence of God by Brother Lawrence