This week, visionary leader Kirbyjon Caldwell continued the Kingdom Kiss series from Luke 15:11–32. In Part 3, the focus shifted from the younger brother to the older brother—and what his response reveals about our own hearts.
When God Does Something Marvelous
Verse 28 tells us the older brother was angry and would not go in to celebrate. Pastor Caldwell reminded us that when God does something marvelous in someone’s life, people usually respond in one of three ways:
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With anger
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With ambivalence
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Or with an “atta boy / atta girl” (celebration and support)
The older brother chose anger. What was brewing on the inside showed up on the outside, and when your outer actions reflect inner anger, they are often inappropriate and regrettable.
Instead of rejoicing that his brother had come home from the dead, he distanced himself, saying “this son of yours”—not “my brother.” The father had to plead with him to come in, reminding us that sometimes family unity requires grace beyond what we think is deserved.
Gum on Your Shoe
Pastor Caldwell gave us a vivid illustration: gum on your shoe.
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Gum doesn’t come off automatically—you have to remove it intentionally.
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Wherever you’ve been, gum tells the story. You don’t have to say where you’ve been; your walk reveals it.
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Gum drags yesterday into today and today into tomorrow.
Your past can look like your present, and your present can threaten your future if you don’t deal with it.
But Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6 to put on the whole armor of God, including your shoes. You can’t just walk around barefoot—bare feet represent slavery and lack of dignity. You must wear your shoes, but you need the gum removed.
Thank God the Holy Spirit is like heat—He can burn the gum away and make your shoes like new again.
The Father’s Protection and Grace
The father ran to meet the younger son—not just out of excitement, but to protect him. In that culture, the community would have wanted to beat the boy down with words or fists. But the father shielded him, showing us that God is our refuge, our very present help in trouble.
And then came the kiss on the neck. The neck is the place of words, oxygen, and blood—life itself. Life had tried to choke the boy, but the father kissed him where death had tried to take him.
That’s grace at the deepest level.
Resurrection Through Repentance
The younger brother repented. Jesus presented repentance as resurrection—slipping out of darkness into life. Every vertical relationship with God requires repentance. Don’t be too big to apologize to God, to others, or even to yourself. Sometimes you need to say: “I forgive me.”
Repentance opens the door to restoration, and restoration comes with gifts.
The Father’s Gifts
The father gave three powerful symbols when he welcomed his son home:
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The Robe → Status
When life pushes you down, God lifts you up. The robe declared that the boy still belonged.
Rev. Lewis Jackson said it best:“I am somebody. I am God’s child. Red, yellow, black or white, I am special in His sight.”
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The Ring → Authority
The ring represented power and access. As Donnie McClurkin sings, “I’m walking in authority.” With authority comes confidence to live as God’s child. -
The Shoes → Dignity
Slaves went barefoot, but sons wore shoes. Shoes mean dignity restored.
Status is how others see you, but dignity is how you see yourself. When you stand on the Word of God, He helps you shake off whatever’s been clinging to you.
New Beginnings
The older brother couldn’t celebrate because his younger brother’s new life revealed his own stuckness. But the father’s love shows us that God is in the business of giving new beginnings.
Every time God smells our sin, our self-righteousness, our arrogance—He still kisses us. He still restores us. He still gives us status, authority, and dignity.
So take heart. The Holy Spirit burns away the gum from your past, making you new, step by step.
Thank God for new beginnings.
