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This week we are continuing our study of Luke Chapter 15. Please read verses 20-32 every day this week and, if possible, use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
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Luke 15:22-24 (NLT)
‘But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.’
My daughter is going to be married very soon and amidst all the festivities and celebrations, there will be one moment that stands out above the others. She will stand alongside her husband to be and they will offer each other rings. He will place a ring on her finger and she will do likewise as a symbol of their love and devotion to each other. Rings are used to signify that they belong to each other.
Very often, I used to look at my wedding ring and think of the commitment that I had made to Cath. Over the years, I’ve come to realise something quite obvious – I didn’t place the ring on my own finger! The ring doesn’t speak of MY commitment at all. It reminds me of Cath’s commitment TO ME. She placed that ring on my finger to signify HER love and fidelity.
So now, whenever I glance at my wedding ring, I know that I am loved by an amazing woman. I am reminded of Cath’s commitment to me despite the difficulties and trials of our marriage. This ring tells me that I’m loved.
While, the ring that the son received from his father can be thought of in the same way, I believe that it goes far beyond that. Yes, the ring shows the son that he’s loved by his father but in early culture, the ring signified much, much more than that. At the very least, it spoke of honour and dignity.
Can you imagine what the son was thinking here? He had been involved in bringing so much DISHONOUR to his father and yet the father was giving him a token of honour. The son’s life had been brought to nothing because of his behaviour and he had discredited his father with his undignified living. However, the father is interested in reconciliation and restoration. What was dishonourable and undignified could now be in a place of honour standing tall with dignity bestowed upon him in grace.
How great is our God in that He takes the base things of the world and makes them vessels of honour. When I consider what I had been involved in before salvation, I am staggered to see the work of grace in my life. He is an amazing God!
If that wasn’t enough, there’s even more! You may have seen older films where a king will be drafting a letter and puts some wax as a seal on the parchment. He then pushes his signet ring into the melted wax and leaves a ‘stamp’ proving the authenticity of the letter. The signet ring indicates the authenticity of the communication and also speaks of the authority of the sender.
In our parable, Jesus uses the ring to indicate that the son’s authenticity is genuine. The lost has been found and this really is his son. Secondly, he’s signifying that the son also has full authority to function as the father’s son once more. This is exactly what God has done for us. He is showing the world that we are His children and that we are able to ‘minister’ under His Authority. Praise God, He has brought us to a wonderful place of security, a position of sonship and of strength. May this thought spur us on today to do great things for Him and for His Kingdom.
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