The son said, ‘Look how many years I’ve stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!’ His father said, ‘Son, you don’t understand.”
— Luke 15:29-31 (Message Bible)
Children have a keen sense of fairness. What parent of more than one child hasn’t heard “You’re not being fair!”
Jesus tells the famous parable of “The Prodigal Son” — a young man who rejected his family, took his inheritance early, and went to live the “good life!”. Life happened and it wasn’t good, he realized the real “good life” was back home. To his and his brother’s surprise the father not only took him back but fully restored him to the family giving the ring, robe, and shoes.
It didn’t seem fair to either. Neither child understood the most important factor of true fairness — LOVE. Learning selfless LOVE enables receiving undeserved forgiveness AND it enables rejoicing, without keeping score, when others receive.
Sound bite: “Love is the missing factor of human fairness.”
Prayer: “Jesus, put the love of God in both my heart and mind so I can understand your actions, forgiveness, and grace. Amen”
— fritz@langgang.com
The Old Testament had strict dietary laws generally based on inherent animal characterises — fish with fins and scales, “clean”, fins without scales, “unclean”. Animals chewing the “cud” and parting the hoof were ok to eat but those having one without the other, no good!
Patrikin - Kinship through The Father 