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nfektious Member Posts: 408 From: Registered: 10-25-2002 |
Luke 15:11-32 (KJV) 11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet 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 unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
The prodigal son simply had to reach out to his father to be restored to the family. The father was all too happy to reach out to him as soon as he saw his son in the distance. But there was a jealous brother, who had been within the reach of the father all along; yet, this angry son was out of fellowship with his father. This story reminds me of how we are as spiritual children to our Heavenly Father. Some of us have been prodigal sons and daughters. But God, seeing us in the distance, extends His arms to us and is more than ready to restore us to His family. All we have to do is get back within His reach for Him to carry us back into the joys He has to share with us. Others of us are like the jealous son, close to the Father, but not close enough to be filled with His joy. There is another example here too. The servants of the father. They were busy taking care of things the whole time. Best of all, they were faithful in their work, and when the time came for the family to come together, these servants prepared the celebration. Some of us are like these servants: diligent in the work of the Father's house and ready to celebrate the return of the Son. We all need to examine our relationship with God. Some have a long distance to travel to experience all that God has for us. Some are within His reach but still have to get closer to Him to experience a real relationship with Him. Some of us are helping Him prepare the return of His Son. Where are you at in your relationship with God? Are you far away from God? Are you part of the family of God, but bitter at everything, and in need of a closer relationship with Him? Are you a diligent servant, willing to prepare for Christ's return, and ready to accept those who need to be restored? Wherever you may be in your relationship with God, you should realize that He is there for you with arms outstretched, waiting to gather you up and embrace you. The only thing you have to do is make your way to him. As soon as He sees you in the distance, He will run to meet you. If you are worried God may not see you far away, just remember that God looks for those who are lost. If you are reading this and want a real relationship with God, this is my prayer for you: I pray that you see God. Even more than that, I pray that you know Him. I pray that you realize where you are in your spiritual journey and that God reveals to you where you need to be. I pray that God is with you as you walk the distance to Him - whether it is a million miles or one step. I pray that you become filled with the joys of the Lord God and that your life fills over into the lives of others who need to know God. Above all, I want to say Welcome to the family of God. May God bless you continually. Amen. |
ArchAngel Member Posts: 3450 From: SV, CA, USA Registered: 01-29-2002 |
nice little( or not so little) analogy (if that's the word) you got there! cool! ------------------ |
c h i e f y Member Posts: 415 From: Surrey, United Kingdom Registered: 03-07-2002 |
I think "the prodigal son" is one of the first stories from the Bible that completely "effected" me and has stayed with me for so long, nfektious has made a good thread here - good reading indeed  ------------------ |