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The Prodigal Son and What it Means Today

The Story of the Prodigal Son to this day shows how all of us at one time or the other have been like
the Pharisees and Scribes. They asked why Jesus would associate with such people as the Publicans
(tax collectors), Gentiles (Non-Jews) and all other sort of unseemly characters but not with them.
Jesus answered saying:
Luke 15:4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the
ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after that which is lost until he finds it?
Luke 15:5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
Luke 15:6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them,
Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.
Luke 15:7 I say to you that likewise joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner who repents, more than
over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
Luke 15:8 Or what woman having ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma, does she not light a lamp
and sweep the house, and seek carefully until she finds it?
Luke 15:9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and her neighbors together, saying,
Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost.
Luke 15:10 Likewise I say to you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

The story of the Prodigal Son is one that relates to almost all of us at one time or the other. Many
people today have left home, went wild till they lost it all then have came back home for the help and
security that your family provides. Unfortunately some of those have not found there way back home
but hopefully this message might come home to them.

The youngest son decided he didn't want to spend all his life working the fields of his father. So he
asked his father for his share of the inheritance so he may go and make a new life for himself. So he
gathered his things and went to a far country. He arrived in this new land and immediately saw that
things were much better there than at home. He then proceeded to live it up drinking, partying and
spending money like crazy until his money ran out and soon he was out on the street, penniless and
hungry and wondering what to do. He found work with a farmer who sent him out to tend to his pigs.
The young man was so hungry he wanted to eat the pods of grain that the pigs were eating but the
farmer didn't give him enough to survive. So one day he thought "My father's workers have more to
eat than I do so why am I here starving?" So he decided to go back home and to say to his father, "I
have sinned against Heaven and before thee. And am no more no more worthy to be called thy son.
Make me on of thy servants." Many people have a problem admitting to anybody today that they have
screwed up and want another chance at doing the right thing.

The son headed home to his father. As he was coming in sight of home his father saw him and with
relief he ran to meet him and kiss him. He told his father what he rehearsed and was very surprised
when his father told his servants to bring the best robe and a ring for his finger and shoes for his feet.
He also told them to get the fatted calf and lets eat and be merry. All was stunned and most
especially his son with his words and he told them that "my son who I thought was dead but he is alive,
he was lost in the world but he found his way back home, So let's party."

As the parable continues, the older son was coming in from the fields and heard the party and
inquired of a passing servant t as to what was going on. The servant told him that his brother had
come home so his father had killed the fatted calf and threw a party to welcome him home safe and
sound. The older brother was visibly upset and would not go into the house. So his father came out
and asked what was wrong. He told his father "Why, after all these years I have worked and obeyed
all your rules, have you not even given me a kid (goat) to eat and party with my friends? I mean after
my brother took his share and left and wasted it, why did you kill the fatted calf and throw him a
party?" The father answered " My son, you are always with me and everything I have is yours. But we
have to celebrate and be glad because your brother who was dead is alive again; he was lost and is
found. [Luke 15: 11-32]

What Jesus was saying to the Pharisees was that"My Father had let his children be what they wanted
to be and they decided to go the way of sin. But now they have come back seeking forgiveness of
their sins. It is my job to bring them back to my Father. You are already with my father; you don't
need my help." So this explained to the Pharisee that if you have not sinned and have followed God's
law, you don't need saving like those who have not.

Many Christians follow the laws of God. They believe in Jesus Christ and have accepted Jesus Christ
as their Lord and Saviour and live decent lives. The ones we need to focus on are the lost. Who
have left and need to come back to God's family. They are in prison serving time for crimes they
have committed. They are the ones who have sinned due to forms of fornication. Those who are
diseased and those who have been injured and wondering why they should keep on living. Most of all
those who think they are saved but through pride or other abominations they are not saved.

We need to make sure we adhere to the laws that God has set forth for us to follow. If we fail we need
to ask for forgiveness from God so we can be welcomed home to our Father's home and not sent
away. We need to study the Bible, we need to pray. We need to help those who are lost to come
back home to our Father's house.

Heavenly Father, we have gone away from your house. We have sinned and don't deserve
to be counted as your children. Forgive us our sins O Father; let us be a servant unto you.
Let us understand if we have been faithful unto you and obeyed your commandments why
you may not be as joyous with us as you are with those who have been lost and have came
back home to you. Let us not be jealous of them but be joyful with you when one of your
children returns home alive and well after being dead and lost for so long.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Copyright 2005 by RK Press