THE HOMECOMING OF THE LOST SON In our first story, how was the sheep lost? By its own stupidity or wilfulness? How was the coin lost? By someone's carelessness? How was this son lost? It was by his own self will. His actions were deliberate. He imagined freedom was anywhere away from the father's home. He wanted a good time, but he eventually found the best time was in the father's house. The far country proved to be a place of want and degradation - a place where no help was given to him when he needed it. He wanted fine food. He was given pigs' food. But in the father's home, he ate the best beef available. He wanted satisfaction. He found it in the father's arms. When he yielded his will, he never wanted again. How the father rejoiced, as did the shepherd and the owner of the coin, when that which was lost, was found! But there seems to be two lost sons in this story, the one who left home, and the one who stayed. This older brother needed help too. His heart was hard and unloving. He was so self-righteous. 'All these years I've slaved for you and never disobeyed your orders.' (v. 29) He was lost to the fellowship of the father as the other son was while in the far country. How did the father deal with him? In the same loving way he welcomed the other son. We would like to think the father's love melted the hard heart of the older son and that fellowship was restored for all three of them. That is how God the Father responds to whoever will come to Him. He deals with each one in tender love in just the way the individual sinner needs. Has that been your experience? Thank Him for it today. |
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