The prodigal son is a familiar story to most of us. Luke calls him a lost son with a “prodigal” (wasteful) lifestyle. It is the story of two sons and a Father. The one son appears to be logical, sensible, obedient and faithful while the other son appears to be foolish and rebellious. The one son stays and faithfully works for his Father whereas the other son asks for his inheritance, leaves home spending every last penny of what was rightfully his on a rebelliously lavish lifestyle. The prodigal returned home, falling into the arms of a Father that ran to him. The Father ran toward his son, kissed him on the neck, receiving him back as his son. I preached this familiar story on Father’s day entitling the message: “A Father’s Love.” This video clip is the last sixty seconds of that message. Here are a few things that became revelation as I shared the message:
1. The story tells us the son “came to his senses” and desired to return home. It reveals there was a famine in the land and the lost son was in want. No one gave him anything. My feelings are if the boy wasn’t in want and there wasn’t a famine that had come on the land he might not have came to his senses and desired to return home. If there would have been plenty or someone would have provided for him he might have stayed in the current state of mind that he had been in; but instead he came to his senses and returned home. Lesson: Don’t despise the things that God might use. There are times when things could turn bad so one would seek what’s better and return home. He said, “My Father’s servants have it better than I do.”
2. One translation says, “He began thinking clearly again.” When he did, He said, “I will get up and go to my Father’ house. I will say, “I have sinned against heaven and I have sinned against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son, make me one of your servants.” The most amazing thing about what he had rehearsed out loud to say to his father was, he never got to finish what he was going to say. He said, “I have sinned against heaven and earth and I have sinned against you.” He also said, “I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But before he could get the last words out of his mouth, which would have been, “make me one of your servants.” The Father said, “Quick, bring the robe and put it on him!” “Put the ring on his finger and the sandals on his feet, my son has returned home!” Lesson: Sin doesn’t change God it changes us. Before the son could ever get the words out of his mouth, ” make one of your servants” the Father called him son. God has made us worthy through the works of Christ. The works of God’s grace redeems us. The love of God in us produces “good works” that glorify Him and edifies one another. Grace is not a “free ticket” to do what we please, it is an empowering work that enables us to do what pleases the Father. Note: It says the servant “put” the robe, the ring and the sandals “on” the son. In order for that to happen the son had to lift his foot, extend his arms and open his hand. You can’t stand in rebellion with stiff arms and a closed hand and receive the provisions of grace. God in Christ has made us worthy.
3. The Ring, The Robe, The Sandals and The “Fatted Calf”. The passage says. “bring the “best” robe, and put it on him.” A robe would have brought warmth and comfort. It would have been a new covering. The ring would have represented family and identity, it would have probably been a family heirloom and might have even had a family crest engraved on it. The sandals would have represented sure footing and walking in the new things which were ahead of him; walking into the promises of God and out of the mess of man. The “fatted” calf would have spoken of the “abundance” of God’s provision. Lesson: God in Christ clothes us in His righteousness, gives us His identity, and empowers us to walk in His love and grace while receiving the provision of His promises all along the way.
The Father’s love never changed. He loved His son who stayed, and He loved His son who returned Home. The son who had been faithful didn’t rejoice in his brother’s return home. The passage says the Father tells the angry son that what He was doing was the right thing to do. God is righteous. Sometimes what we view as not being fair might be a “matter of the heart” and an overflow of our attitude. You might need to learn to extend grace. Not because you agree or understand, but because you might need it extended in your time of need as well. The Father says, “my son was lost but now he is found, he was dead and now he is alive again!” Anyone who has experienced the “Father’s Love” can say, “I once was lost but now I’m found, I was blind, but now I see!”