Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment, Part 6 – Celebration Mercy

"‘Son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” Luke 15:31–32

Story: The Older Brother 

When the prodigal son returned, the father ran to embrace him and threw a joyful celebration. But the older son stood outside, angry and refusing to go in. The father came out to invite him, saying, "Son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate because your brother was lost and is now found." Yet, the story ends without revealing whether the older son chose to join the celebration, leaving us to consider how we would respond to the father’s mercy.

The Call to Celebrate Mercy
The story of the prodigal’s older brother reminds us of an uncomfortable truth: judgment robs us of joy. The older son’s refusal to join the celebration wasn’t just about his brother’s mistakes—it revealed his inability to grasp the father’s heart of mercy.

The father’s response to the older son is a great example of God’s mercy. Instead of rebuking the older son for his anger and judgmentalism, the father gently affirms his identity: "Son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours." The older son had worked tirelessly, but he lived like a servant, not a son. He misunderstood his father’s love, thinking it was something to be earned rather than freely given.

Mercy triumphs over judgment when we prioritize restoration over fairness. The father’s focus wasn’t on fairness—it was on love. He celebrated, not because the prodigal deserved it, but because he rejoiced in the restoration of his lost son. When we judge or compare ourselves to others, we miss this joy. Mercy invites us to join in the celebration—to rejoice in God’s grace and the power of restoration.

To Love Mercy: 

Take one intentional step to celebrate God’s mercy in someone else’s life—whether it’s offering a kind word, sharing a prayer, or rejoicing with them in their growth.

Prayer:
Abba Father, help us to celebrate Your work in others’ lives, that we may embrace the joy of being Your children. In Jesus’ name, Amen.