The Parable of the Prodigal Son (3)

The Prodigal Son didn’t really know who his father was or how his father felt about him until he left home. Looking back, he thought, ‘I left the best thing I ever had’. After ending up in a hog pen he ‘came to himself’ (v. 17). Looking around, he thought, ‘This is not how I was meant to live’. At that point his life took a dramatic turn. Upon his return, his father threw a big party. When the Prodigal Son got a revelation of who his father was, he discovered who he was; then he could really celebrate. Until you discover who God is, and who you are, there’s nothing to celebrate. You’ll just keep trying to buy love, get people to like you, try to win their friendships, try to make connections, try to be with the right people at the right place at the right time in order to get to the right destination, etc. But once you know Who your Father is, and who you are,

you get to go back home and take your rightful place at the table. No more loneliness. No more guilt. No more lacking. Listen to the Father’s words: ‘We had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found’ (v. 32 NIV). When he left home the Prodigal Son was saying, ‘…Give me my share of the estate…’ (v. 12 NIV). But he discovered that you can have all the ‘stuff’ in the world, yet it means nothing without the assurance of your Father’s love. Get the idea?

2 Kings 24-25, Matt 26:65-75, Ps 72:12-20, Pr 9:7-9