Dressed for Success
By Deb Moken
A little, unsolicited advice before diving in. Few things arrest and strangle the learning process as effectively as “I know”. ”I know” is a powerful thought-process-deactivation-switch. Training yourself to not flip that “I know” switch will insure a life more fascinating, rich, fulfilling and fun.
Okay - that said, let’s dive into the ultra-familiar Prodigal Son Parable.
Possessions, Appreciation, Identity, Authority and Purpose
When the possession-driven son returns, humbled and humiliated, broke and broken the Father presented him with three gifts and throws a party. That celebration torqued the other brother off; showing him to be a praise and appreciation driven individual. I think most folks fall into one of these two motivational categories: possessions or appreciation. But I think the father’s three overlooked and undervalued gifts represent the best he had to offer both sons all along.
The robe represents a new identity - Like a high school letterman’s jacket, it provides immediate
recognition of the wearer's affiliation. The robe wearer, having been rescued out of the kingdom of darkness, is now identified as being the Righteousness* of God in Christ Jesus.
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| 2000 year old signet ring |
The shoes represent purpose and mission - A person needs decent footwear if they want to go somewhere. How the sandal wearer chooses to fulfill that mission is unique but the mission itself remains constant. It is to declare the good news of Christ’s Gospel. The news? The evil, merciless, wicked, maniacal overlord has been overthrown, and humanity is free to choose a life governed by the heavenly principles of forgiveness, grace, love, and mercy.
The Cross Changed Everything!
*Righteous means to be right with God. Because Christ Jesus paid the ransom, required by the enemy, He legally satisfied the enemy's demand for our release: the blood of a sinless human being.
