DCLM Higher Everyday 16 January 2024 — The Prodigal Son Ponders
Topic: The Prodigal Son Ponders
Text: Luke 15:11-20
11And he said, A certain man had two sons:
13And 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.
14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17And 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!
18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20And 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.
Key Verse: “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! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee” (Luke 15:17-18)
Message
The prodigal son, as the second son of the rich man in our text is popularly called, made an audacious demand! He wanted his family fortunes shared while the father was very much alive. This did not make his father happy, yet, he got what he wanted. However, he soon became a destitute, due to extravagant living in a strange land. For survival, the prodigal son accepted a job in a piggery farmro and fed pigs for survival. At this point, “he came to himself.” He pondered about the situation he had plunged himself into, in a distant land, far from the love and care of his father.
Like the prodigal son, some Christian youths have wandered away from the love of Christ. In search for unconditional love outside of God, they have been left disappointed and heartbroken for the very reason that they were enticed to leave the good Lord. God is ready to receive everyone that has forsaken His love and salvation, if such can pause, ponder, repent and return home to the Saviour, the Lord Jesus.
Quote: Repent and return home
Challenge: The Lord is ready to receive every prodigal child.
Prayer for today: Dear God, help me not to take your mercy for granted.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
