The parable of the lost son

Father God, we thank you that the entrance of Your Word brings light, may Your light LORD shine upon the lives of Your sons and daughters and bring them into their inheritance in the name of Jesus, amen.

Luke 15:11-24 (NKJV)

11. "A certain man had two sons.

12. And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood.

13. "And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

14. But when he has spent all, there arose a famine in that land, and he began to be in want.

15. "Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swin.

16. "And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

17. But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18. I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,

19. "and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."

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.

21. "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

22. " But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

23. 'And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;

24. 'for this son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry."

Amen, thank you LORD.

The above parable is one of the many that Jesus taught in the gospels. However, the full account of this parable runs from Luke 15:11-32 and I encourage you to read it when you get a chance.

In this parable of the lost son, Jesus is narrating a story about a father with two sons. Now in this parable, the father of the sons may be interpreted as God, the Father and the two sons represent the different kinds of sons in His kingdom.

The first born son has a kingdom mindset, where it's about stewarding inheritance but in the above account, I share on the second son. The second son is God's son, beloved by God, the Father. However, though a son, He does not bear the full understanding of his sonship. He looks at his identity with the Father as something transactional. For example, I need a job, car, money, etc which are not bad things. How we know they are not bad things is the Father would not have given them to his son if they were bad things. Despite the goodness of these gifts, he squandered the inheritance the Father gave him on wild parties and lifestyles because he did not have the maturity to steward his inheritance.

Galatians 4:1-2 NKJV says, "Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is a master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father."

I believe what the father gave the second son was not everything he had in store for him when it came to his inheritance. The father knew the son did not yet possess the knowledge and wisdom to steward more, he gave what was necessary lest he destroy his life on top of squandering the inheritance. Friend, God does not intend to give you a blessing that would destroy you because all the plans and purposes He has concerning your life are everlasting. Ecclesiastes 3:14 AMP says, "I know that whatever God does, it endures forever; nothing can be added to it nor can anything be taken from it, for God does it so that men will fear and worship Him [with awe filled reverence knowing that He is God]."

Thankfully, the second son comes to his senses, and recognizes the wreckless living and lifestyle was an empty life after all. He came to the recognition that an inheritance only had as much value with his identity as the father's son. He also came to the realization that the world was brutal but in his father's house, there was love, security and provision for everyone including his servants. He started to see the value of his identity as a son. Without his identity as his father's son, he would never have had an inheritance to begin with.

On the other hand, the father patiently waited for his son's return just like any loving father. Luke 15:20 tells us the father ran when he saw the son was a great way off. He opened up his arms in love and welcomed him back home without any condemnation or judgment. He rejoiced as his lost son had returned home! - Amen. God, the Father's arms are always open in love, ready to welcome all of His children. I believe the second son had an understanding of his father's love which gave him the confidence to return home.

On the other hand, one may realize the first son who was a good steward did not bear the right understanding of his father's love. This is reflected with how displeased he was when his father was celebrating the return of his younger brother as seen in Luke 15:28-30.

Ultimately, the inheritance or blessing God gives will never be sufficient by itself yet alone a substitute for your relationship with the Father, God and your identity as His son.

Let us pray together: Father God thank you that with You there is mercy and Your arms are always open wide to receive me back into Your loving arms. I am yours Father and You are Mine. May I grow deeper in relationship with You, God. I ask for the understanding and grace to steward well every inheritance and blessing You have for me, for Your glory in the name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you LORD.

Invitation to salvation: The above promise is for God's children who have made a confession and received Jesus as Lord and Saviour of their life. When you receive Him, you are forgiven, redeemed from spiritual death, whole, healthy, set apart, complete in Him and reconciled in relationship with God, the Father now until eternity. If this sounds like you:

Please make this confession;

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever. Thank you Father that because the Son has made me free, I am now free indeed." AMEN.

If you just said this prayer, congratulations - GLORY TO GOD, the LORD has redeemed you and you are born again- AMEN. In case you have not already, join a church community and get water baptized!