Come to the Father

And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. (Luke 15:13)

But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." And he arose and came to his father. (Luke 15:17-20a)

The prodigal (wasteful) lifestyle is an unfortunate choice driven by many false notions about life. The son in Jesus’ story reminds us all too often of many young lives we witness today -- a false sense of immortality, entitlement, carelessness, and a disdain for any type of rule or authority. These traits are often passed off as youthful indiscretion or “sowing wild oats." But some fail to realize we reap what we sow! 

Every one of us can identify with the prodigal son in this passage. We have all at one point gone astray, determined to have life on our own terms, only to realize our ways are unprofitable, because they are not God’s ways. Proverbs 14:12 says, There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Our young man was headed toward death – death of his hopes and dreams, death of his potential and future, death of his relationship with his father. Then, "he came to himself!" This was the blessed turning point in his life, as it was for those of us who realized our rebellious ways were leading us down a path of destruction. He repented and found a father who was more than ready to receive him again, as if he’d never left. What a marvelous picture of our Heavenly Father! Let us turn back to God today. Let us fall into His outstretched arms. Don’t keep Him waiting.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, thank You for Your marvelous patience with us. Thank You for never leaving or forsaking us, and for always receiving us when we turn back to You. May we turn away from prideful and wasteful living and run to the Living God! Amen.