Goats and Fattened Calves

Written and Submitted by Mercelle in Colorado

Goats and Fattened Calves



If you've ever read the Prodigal Son, like I read it, you probably could relate to the older brother who felt as if he had done everything to earn the Father's love and felt jilted when he learned that his younger brother had returned after being among swine to be greeted with open arms, a new robe, a ring, and a huge feast. How could this be you might wonder? The point being that you have always been with the Father and everything he has is already yours (it is ours). You, like I, just got it twisted and thought we needed to do something to earn the Father's love and there is absolutely nothing we can ever do to earn HIS love. HE just loves us, a very simple concept but hard for to grasp.



Remember, the older brother was even willing to take a fattened goat? He said something like you never even gave me a goat but you gave him a fattened calf. He was willing to settle for a goat just to get the Father's love because he had been working so long for it, trying to earn it. But the Lord did not give him a reward for his works. if HE did, he (the older son) would be no different from a slave. We don’t need to earn the Father's love, we just need to accept it. Remember, in the beginning he divided the inheritance among both sons? Yes, he gave to both of them freely, but the older one thought he had to work to prove his worth. He did not! The Father loved them both.



Now before I talk about the younger brother, let me share something I learned. Fattened calves were used or kept in the event that royalty came by. Only wealthy individuals back in the day had them. They would be used for a feast if someone of royalty or nobility should come by. They were not used at other times for the sake of throwing a party. Only the highest of the high would get to eat the fattened calf.



Oh yes, now let's talk about the swine the younger brother began living with, and feeding, and eventually eating with. Swine are not clean animals. Imagine a wealthy Hebrew young man from "the right kind of family" living among swine. Hello, that's a no no. That would be considered the lowest of low. Some of us have to get to the lowest of low before we return to the Father. Thank God, HE is willing to accept us with open arms, give us his many blessings, and sacrifice HIS fattened Calf for us.



Now, let's get back to our story and what else I have learned. The very best the Father gave to the young son. He (the young son) needed a sacrifice, bloodshed for his filthy living. So the Father gave of HIS very best to save him. He (the younger son) needed to be saved. God has given us HIS very best, HIS son Jesus Christ and sacrificed him to cover our sins (our filthy living). Our sins have been covered with HIS blood- the very best, what is only fit for royalty was given to us.



I learned that I was willing to settle for a goat in an attempt to earn the Father's love. I worked so hard and miserably failed so many times trying to earn the Father's love (like the older son). I did not need to earn it. I was always welcome to the best (everything he has is mine) but I got derailed and settled, even living among the swine (like the younger son). A prayer was offered on my behalf today that whatever was blocking me (probably through self preservation) be removed so that I could truly experience the Father's love and how I should be loved as HIS daughter. Don't settle for second best when the Lord has only the greatest blessings for HIS children.



I pray, Father, that all who read this will be able to recognize your very best for them. I pray they will accept your free gift of LOVE which is the very best and return to you. Amen.