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The Parable of the Lost Son
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.’”
My Takeaway
Joseph Shucraft
When we are like the prodigal
The prodigal son is like the world and worldly living. On the one hand, we consume and traverse a world inundated with itself and in grotesque obscurity. We can see no end to the luxuries abounding in our flesh. We selfishly indulge and, in our insecurity, are proud of our misdeeds. We don’t see the bright lights but the cream in our hands. We are unaware that there is an end to this feast and that life is not abundant in the world.
How we are redeemed
We are redeemed when we come to love and faith in God. Love spreads from person to person through the Spirit of God. The Bible says when two or more are gathered that, he is present. Much is said about the individual, which is prosperous when empowered, but we forget the power we can have in one another’s lives. Our actions for others are not always seen or heard but sometimes come months or years later. Fruits from trees don’t grow biggest when first planted.
When Jealousy takes hold
In this instance, jealousy is when we see each other struggle and dissuade one another from picking back up our lives and using them for purpose. We see a crippled man who’s made whole, and we break his back with labor. We tie them a second time and throw them back into the shadows.
Where is the Father?
God is present in all circumstances. We find him quickly if we turn our heads and look for him. There is no low too far for God to handle.
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