TRANSFORMATIONAL 4REAL MAGAZINE -- AUGUST 2022 -- VOLUME 3, NO. 1 -- 2ND ANNIVERSARY EDITION

later, as he knew he would do nothing good with it at that age, and so said so done! The lust of the flesh; wanting what you want; sex, booze, drugs, parties, etc.; the lust of the eyes; the beautiful looking women; the fancy chariots (cars), the luxurious hotels, the bling, etc. I’m the pride of life. You don’t have my lifestyle. I have money, fame, and fortune. Look at me. I’m a traveler. Look at my selfies. I’m traveling the world. Look at my Lamborghini etc. I’m the king of my castle. Oh, how we, as Christians, love to condemn him, forgetting that we all sin differently. His brother, who had never left home, never given daddy any problems, and who was the best if not perfect, felt the same way, and he was not aware that he sinned differently, that self-righteousness and false pride are soul-sucking sins. You see, the sins the brother committed were of the flesh. You see it, you know it, you can call it out, you can come to yourself and repent, but oh, when we’re self-righteous, we feel we’re right, we know we’re right, and we build up animosity, if not hatred, for those sinners, especially backsliders. We seem to hate them with a passion. We call it “godly hatred,” but Jesus is showing us that this causes us to outdo ourselves. We become so hateful that when the backsliders return, we’re madder than Jonah was. I know it; I lived it. Christian people did not speak to me for years, even though my Heavenly Father and I renewed our vows. And I didn’t understand it then because the Lord kept telling me, you’re here for them more than you’re here for you. The Prodigal’s brother did not realize his brother’s return should have brought change to his heart and soul. His Father understood redemption, but big brother couldn’t see the big picture because all he saw was his righteous self. He missed the lesson and decided to hold on to his feelings. He should have been the only one there because he was perfect, and like Satan, he chose to stay on the outside looking in because he felt he should have been exalted and given accolades. We feel we’ve already processed wheat. We can’t sing hard or run about like those still growing out in the field swaying about, so instead of enjoying the service and thanking God for delivering the person, we’re mad; we sulk and complain.