“Everything I have is yours.” Luke 15:31
Dear Abba, five compelling words—”Everything I have is yours.” Compelling and enticing, curiosity-fueling and memory-triggering—for instance, in the 100’s of weddings I have officiated, nervous and naïve couples speak these words to each other as a part of their covenant vows: “With all that I am, and with all that I have, I honor you.” In other words, “I will withhold nothing in our marriage. Everything I have and am, I now give to you.”
On the other end of the spectrum—the dark part of the spectrum, Satan lied to Jesus with similar words. “See all these kingdoms and their splendor, I’ll give all of it to you, if you will bow down and worship me” (Matt.4:9). What a lie and what a liar he is… they weren’t his to give, and he had no clue to whom he was speaking.
But Father—glorious, generous, loving Abba, it is you who speaks these words to us. “Everything I have is yours—we who are as foolish and broken as the younger son, and as insolent and clueless as the elder son (Luke 15:11-32). In the Gospel you constantly say to us: “I give you myself. Nothing will separate you from my love, exhaust my grace, or deplete my mercies. I greatly delight in you, will quiet you with my love, and will never stop rejoicing over you.” (Zeph.3:14-17)
“All that is mine is yours—the fullness of my forgiveness, the righteousness of my Son, a home in my heart and family, the sealing and presence of my Spirit. I rescued you from the dominion of darkness and brought you into the kingdom of my beloved Son—the New Creation (Col.1:13; 2 Cor.5:17). Your citizenship is in heaven and your new and forever name ‘My Beloved.’” Father… shocking, stunning… thank you… free us from our unbelief. So Very Amen.
