We are a lot more like the prodigal son than you may think.  Read the scripture below and lets identify (3) the areas we similarly mistaken God’s love for us.   

Luke 15:11-31, “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 around 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. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

²⁸ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

³¹ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

1. We Mess Up Everyday Just Like the Son:
The first thing I noticed is the son just completely messed up by splurging all his money and riches away.  He took the money and went crazy.  Haven’t you messed up before?  Haven’t you made decisions before, knowing there would be dire consequences but you wanted to live in the moment so you disregarded the Holy Spirit speaking to you saying, “Don’t do that.”

2. Pride & Ego Made Him Hide From His Father
The second learning lesson, pride and ego made the son hide from his father in shame.  He was willing to get one of the worst jobs of the land before even considering going home to his father. he was ashamed. He was embarrassed.   

3. We BELIEVE We Deserve the Consequences
Y’all— Many times we are harder on ourselves and feel as if we deserve certain lows in our life when in actuality, God has already forgiven us.  The love of our father surpasses all understanding.  This means we may not understand it, but God has already given us the grace and favor that we don’t even deserve.

In this week’s meditation, sit in the truth that God OVERWHELMINGLY loves YOU and there’s nothing you can do to turn His love away! We all have messed up, but its time to come home to HIm.

  

This week’s word: Love


This week’s activity: Read through the parable of the prodigal son and ask God to reveal new truths to you.  See this story differently. Put yourself on the shoes of the son and watch how his father runs to him with love and celebration because, “My son is home and he is alive.”  Rest in the assurance that you are overwhelmingly loved by God.



Be Blessed.