- Notes from Nathan
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- Luke 15:25-28
Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.
A hot head lives at odds with a warm heart.
Of all the methods the enemy uses to isolate us, anger may be the most effective.
Anger interprets good news as warning. It answers invitation to join in with refusal to enter. It sees God's grace on others as taking away from oneself. It hears music and sees dancing and turns it into cause for concern. It can keep us out in the field while there's a celebration going on elsewhere.
Anger fuels us with the stubbornness to stay in our isolation.
Left unaddressed, it's a slow-burning, long-lasting, heart-hardening situation. But even in all this, there’s good news:
“So his father went out and pleaded with him.”
Lord - Remind us that while our anger is inevitable, so is your pursuit of us in the midst of our stewing. Soften our hearts to know you see anger’s underlying causes, and help us respond to your invitation. Amen.