Do you know a prodigal? The Father encourages us never to give up on their return.
Luke 15:11-23
11 Jesus continued: ‘There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” So he divided his property between them.
13 ‘Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 ‘When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.” 20 So he got up and went to his father.
‘But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms round him and kissed him.
21 ‘The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
22 ‘But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.
This passage speaks loudly today. I have just heard that a much-loved dear family friend has died. What rings loud is that his life represents that of the prodigal.
This dear friend came to faith. He showed boldness in witnessing to large groups of people about his faith and love for God. He headed off to Bible College. His Christian commitment and future pathway looked rosy. A few years later something happened to stop him in his tracks. He walked away. He walked far away. In his rejection, just like the son in this passage he went to a very distant country. He turned to a world view that openly rejected the Father’s teaching. Now he would quote bible passages as a bullet and not as healing balm.
Through all this time we loved him. We prayed that he would return to the knowledge of the Father’s great love for him. See today how we read ‘while he was still a long way off, his father saw him’. God still saw him and was waiting for, longing for his return.
He grieved with us when difficult things happened to our family. But he also used those times in our life as examples of why God just “couldn’t be a good God” if he let bad things happen to good people. That stung. But still we prayed. Above our prayers there was always the Father who heard them and had compassion for him just waiting, patiently waiting for the time of return.
It was a tough friendship still loving the son who had walked away. Then came the illness, surely now we thought he will return to the Father of all comfort. But just like the prodigal son when he experienced need and longing, he rejected the Father’s resources and went to other sources. He sought other providers for comfort yet there still seemed to be a lack of fulfilment. I can’t say that he found peace in other places. His stomach was still empty.
Right until the end he verbalised his doubts about the very existence of God. Now he has died.
I seek comfort in the fact that the Father was always there waiting with arms open wide. It was a personal relationship between our much-loved friend and God. We will never know what happened in those final hours and whether the many prayers, the many conversations the many times of walking alongside echoed to the heart of our friend and his eyes were once again opened to see the Father. If he did then I believe the Father would have open arms and compassion in his eyes as he ran towards him to welcome him home. Desiring to give him all good things that come from a loving ever forgiving Father.
You may never know this side of heaven what happens to the prodigal in your life. But I encourage you to keep praying for them. The Father in this passage never gave up looking and seeing into the distance for his son to return. I encourage you to never give up. Love the prodigal. Care for the prodigal and God alone will claim the results.
Head: Do you ever feel someone in your life has gone too far to return to the Father? If this doubt is yours then look ahead to Luke to read the passage at chapter 23 verse 40- 43. Here we read of the criminal on the cross experiencing eternal forgiveness.
Heart: Claim the truth in your heart that God never gives up and always longs for the prodigal.
Hands: See if you can have the opportunity to show some form of practical love today to the prodigal in your life.
Prayer: Dear Lord only you know our hearts. Only you know what has happened in the lives of people who have turned from you. Only you know how far each of us has gone from you. But it is also true that only you keep waiting for your sons and daughters to return. I thank you that you waited for me. I thank you that you can wait for my friend (name the person on your heart today). You know his/ her needs help me to not give up showing love to him/her even when he/she tells me he has rejected you help me not to reject them. I thank you that you never give up. AMEN.
A song to listen to: Grace awaiting me
Emma-Jane McNicol
