A prodigal is (a) one who spends or gives lavishly and foolishly; (b) one who has returned after an absence. I have learned some priceless wisdom from this passage of scripture. It seems like something new comes out of each reading. I urge you to read the entire passage of Luke 15:11-32.
He was the youngest of two sons. It could have easily been a daughter written about here, but son it is in this scripture. He decided that home was just not providing the entertainment and fun he needed. He requested his part of the inheritance. Problem was, his father was still living. It was as though he wished his father dead. His father did not hold him back but divided his estate and gave the son his money. He left on a whirlwind tour of life. He went to a far country. He left the love of his parents and brother. He went to a place foreign to him. As long as he was doing well, he had friends. Life was good. He was spending lavishly and having a great time. But like almost all good things, he soon fell on hard times. He exhausted his inheritance. Even the land fell on hard times. A famine visited this place he traded home for. He was destitute and sought employment with a citizen who promptly sent him to tend to the swine. The vilest place for a Jewish man to find himself. He is in such a terrible place that the food fed to the pigs begins to look appealing to him.
Then he begins to think about home. That place that he could not wait to leave. Even the servants in his father’s house had a better life than he has found himself in. So, he rehearses in his mind what he will say to his father when he returns home. He is willing to be treated as a servant and relinquish his role as son. He is ready to serve rather than be served.
Scripture says that while he was far off, his father saw him coming and ran to meet him. He embraced him. This child who had the stink of the world all over him is so loved by his father that he embraces this lost child. He calls for the finest robe, a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. It is time for a celebration.
~Thought For Today~
We can get enamored with what the world has to offer. It looks so great and we feel so sure that we don’t need anyone. We go out and we find that the world does not love us like those folks back at the house. In fact the world can get pretty nasty and difficult.
Notice that the father has apparently been waiting for the child to come to his senses. He is the Father who watches and waits for his child to return. He longs to see him coming down the road. He runs to meet him while the son is still afar off. The father’s love for the child is so strong that he is ready to cover the stink of a pig sty with his finest robe. Whose robe do you think that was? Is it possible that the finest robe in the house was the father’s? The father has welcomed this one back to his home. The one who was disrespectful and demanding of him. Why? Because he loves him. And the son? I just imagine that he was so grateful for forgiveness of his behavior, a warm, clean place to lay his head, food to eat when he was hungry, the security that home offered, that he did everything he could to help his father.
This is a perfect picture of the love our Heavenly Father has for us. He stands at the door watching for us. He longs for us to stop wallowing in the sins of the world, and come home. At some point we realize what our life has become and how sickened and lost we are without the wisdom of our Father and our family. He stands patiently, watching and waiting. Longing to see his lost child. Then He sees us coming. Beaten down, and homesick for all that is good about home and disgusted with the aroma of the world. He covers our sin with the finest of robes…the blood of Jesus. He welcomes us back into the family. He forgives us for our ugly ways and dishonor of Him.
~Scripture For Today~
Luke 15:20-24
20 So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate. (NASB)
~Prayer For Today~
Hello Father! We can relate to this prodigal. Most if not all of us have longed for the world. Only to find it disappointing. Thank You for watching and waiting for us to come to our senses and we run back to Your welcoming arms. Father, we pray that nothing is more important than a desire to respect and serve those we love, our families. I know too well, our family will not always be with us. Forgive us of our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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