The Lost Son – The Prodigal

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. 13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. 17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” ’ 20 “So he returned home to his father.” (Luke 15:11-20 NLT)

I hope this works! This story is part of a group of three stories Jesus used to emphasize God’s love for all people—Jews and Gentiles, family and strangers, and lost and found—God’s unconditional love for all and the length and depth of God’s love. I’m looking at each of the three characters in Jesus’ story through fresh eyes!

A young man, son of a wealthy landowner-farmer, was bored with his life. He asked his father to give him his share of the inheritance and let him go. His older brother would inherit two-thirds of the estate and our young bored fool would inherit one-third. The father did what was necessary to cash out the value to give it to his son. Then he sadly handed his son the check and watched him walk away. The son went to a distant land and blew it all! He was starving, broken, and ready to eat pig food. He came to his senses, repented deeply, and humbly went home to his father.

I had a similar attitude for a couple of years in my late teens. I did and said things that deeply grieved my father and mother. I chose friends who did not challenge me to do better. I wasted educational and other opportunities. I also deeply repented and “came home” and I have sixty-plus years of good life because my family and my faith welcomed me home. I am so thankful! Can you relate to this at all?

Prayer:

Father, Thank you from my whole heart for welcoming me back home! I don’t remember killing a calf or having a party, but I got a fresh start on a good life! Amen.