"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WITH PRODIGALS"
Luke 15:20 And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
Some explanatory thoughts/application and a prayer:
1. We are breaking into this story almost towards it's end. In fact, the boy had come to the end of himself as well. Or as Jesus tells it, "when he came to himself". The son had reached a point of where he finally came to his senses.
2. Selfishness, lack of respect, and disobedience as was the case here, I believe were what drove this young man to do what he did. And, it got him into much trouble. The Bible says, in Job 4:8 "My experience shows that those who plant trouble and cultivate evil will harvest the same"
And, that's what had happened to this young man.
3. But, he finally had enough of it. He came to his senses and starting heading home, having figured out what he was going to say to his father. But, he had a surprise waiting for him. And, that surprise is found in Luke 15:20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
4. Notice please the part of 15:20 that says, "And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming" Now what do you suppose that means? Let me tell you what I recently read from one very respected commentator, Dr David Jeremiah. I'm paraphrasing here a little, but he said, "it's believed that what the father would do day by day, was leave his property, and go a great distance off where he could get a good view of the surrounding horizon, and the road that anyone would most likely travel on if they were coming to his place. And, he would day by day, go there and look to see if his son was coming down that road."
5. What a grand picture of our Father in heaven, and His vigilant eye if you will looking for those who have wandered away and are wasting and ruining their lives. So, for all the pain you may feel, and all the wishing you have in your heart, and all the praying you do for your prodigal(s) please know God is right there with you, and He is looking as well. He wants them home.
6. Prayer is not unheard by God when it's in line with His will. We know that He does not want anyone to perish, and we know that He wants all men to come to repentance. and we know that repentance is a gift from God, and that it's the goodness of God that leads someone to repentance. And, we know that Christ's work on the cross was for the sins of all men, and that God loves your prodigal(s) just as much as He loves You or me, or anyone else for that matter.
And, we know that persistence in prayer is very Biblical. So, let's keep praying for them.
A prayer:
Lord, that is our prayer. We pray for their return to You, and to their loved ones. Nothing is impossible with You Lord. Please give comfort to the broken hearts of parents, siblings, spouses, and so on. Thank You for Your graciousness, and Your unending love and mercy, and the power of Your Goodness, to lead them to repent. We pray that You would pour Your goodness into their lives, bring that work of conviction into their hearts, remove the blindness that Satan may have placed, and show them Jesus, and His great love for them. Bring them to Yourself Lord, and then to their families in Jesus name.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
