Luke 15:20-24 (ESV)
20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was
still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and
embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned
against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22
But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it
on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the
fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was
dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to
celebrate.
I'm sure we all have heard the parable of the Prodigal let
us see if we can gain deeper insight into this message of Jesus.
This is a story of a somewhat dysfunctional family --
something most of us can relate to. So first, let's look at the Prodigal son.
He asks his father for his inheritance, immediately, before the normal time for
receiving it -- essentially implying that he would prefer that his father were
dead, rather than remaining with him and his older brother. The father would
have been quietly devastated. Think about it? - If your son approached you with
a request which was normally fulfilled by your passing away -- how would you
feel? Yet in spite of the pain caused by his callous son -- the Father truly
loves him. Upon his return, the Father embraces him once again and even treats
him like a King!
So it is for much of the unbelieving world with no
acknowledgment of or gratitude for their Creator -- they're happy to enjoy the
abundance of God and His creation, while completely ignoring His existence and
counting Him as dead.
Yet God so loves His prodigals -- and desires everyone to
return Him!
We are all called to reach this world for the Lord. And
prodigals are everywhere...Let's give them a taste of their Father's love -- so
that when they begin to come to their senses, they will know and feel that they
can safely return to His house and be received with open arms!
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