The story , in Luke Chapter 15, of the prodigal son has three different characters. Which one are you?
The younger son asked, and received, his inheritance early from his father. After a few days, he gathered his things and left. He had what he wanted–money and no cares. We refer to it as “Wine, Women, and Song.” He was living the “Life.” Eventually he spent all he had, and there came a famine in the country where he was residing, and found himself wanting. He found a job feeding a man’s swine out in the field, yet no one would give him anything. He thought to himself that even his fathers servants had more to eat than they needed, so he decided to go home and apologize to his father. As he was nearing home, the father saw him, ran to meet him, and called for a welcome home party.
The father showed his undying love for his son and welcomed him back with open arms. The kind of love that we wish we all had.
The older son, who stayed home, worked with his father, and did what he was expected to do, got angry when he found out what was going on. He was so angry that he wouldn’t even go inside to join the party. His father came outside and pleaded with him to come inside. Then the older son said, “I’ve stayed home with you and followed your every command and yet you never gave me a young goat that I might party with my friends.” The father told him, You never left my side and what I have you also have.”
The point of this story, as Jesus told it is this, our Father, God, will show us the love that the father showed and forgive us as the father forgave his son. All we have to do is say, “I have sinned and I need to repent.” I’m thankful that I have a forgiving, loving, and merciful Father.
So…..the question is this–Are you the mess up that the younger son was, the angry son that didn’t understand, or the father with happiness, love, and forgiveness for his son?
SMILE God loves YOU!! Have a good day all.
