The Prodigal Son - Part 1

And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. (Luke 15:14-16 ESV). This week we will look at a very familiar story from the gospels. It is most known as the Parable of the Prodigal Son. A better title would be “the Parable of the Loving Father.” Jesus is talking. He has told the crowd that a certain man had two sons. One son, the younger, asked for his share of the estate in advance. He left home and squandered all his money on wild living. This is where we pick up in the story with today’s Scripture. I want to talk this week about a subject I have thought a lot about lately. What we can learn about lost people by this story is very revealing. Before we get started, I need you to understand that this is not for those who are spiritually lost, as in those who have never accepted Jesus as their personal Savior. Those people are spiritually lost, but I hope this week will apply to those Christians, born again, who have “lost” their way. They are not following God as closely as they know they should be. The first thing we can learn about lost people is that lost people often know they are lost. There comes a time in their life when they know something is missing. No one really needs to tell them or even share with them about the void in their life. They know. In fact, it is a knowledge that may gnaw at them from deep within in a sense of emptiness that cannot be verbalized. This is true of most all people who are lost. It is also true of those Christians living outside of God’s perfect will for them. The abundant joy and the peace that surpasses understand is not present in their life. They want it, but it is not there because they aren’t living God’s plan for them. Without that plan, the real blessings of Christianity are never realized. A second thing we can learn about lost people from this parable’s introduction is that lost people often will settle for less than they are entitled to in their life. This young man was desperate. In his desperation he settled for pig’s food. I wonder how many people have been driven to such an existence as that simply because they felt they had no alternatives? Are you lost? Is there something missing from your life? Do you desire to experience all God has for you? I have good news for you! God desires to welcome you back home with robes, rings, and sandals! He has a party waiting for you in honor of your return! Perhaps this week is just for you!