Thursday, June 22, 2023
The return of the prodigal son is a story we’ve heard repeatedly in various versions. We’ve lived it or seen it up close in the lives of our family and friends. Although the beginnings and outcomes develop differently, the meaning is a spiritual truth that all have or hopefully will experience. You leave your family to avoid responsibility or to chase your own wants or dreams against their wishes. Sometimes, life blows up like a dumpster fire. Other times, you find success, but it still leaves you empty. Eventually, there’s nowhere to go but back home.
Of course, the Bible perfectly portrays the original prodigal son, but sometimes we miss the message. Sometimes it’s difficult to understand a lesson that’s so far removed from our everyday lives.
Here are a few prodigal son examples to bring this message to life.
There’s Anakin Skywalker, who gets a little reckless in life but, after a few decades of questionable activity, returns to who he was meant to be. How about Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings? He fought against his fear of the past and returned as King. Lebron James is another king who came home after realizing he had made an unfavorable decision.
The movie, Legends of the Fall, offers a great visual example of this quintessential Bible story. Tristan, the younger brother, continuously ran from his father but always received his love. Alfred, the older brother, spent a lifetime trying to please their father and couldn’t understand why everyone loved Tristan.
In all of these stories, the sons took different paths but, eventually, found peace within their homecoming.
Luke 15:20-21, 31-32
20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’
31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’
One son was lost to the world. The other son felt lost because he did everything right but didn’t think it was enough in his father’s eyes. The Bible story and Legends of the Fall are perfect examples of how lost we can become, but they also show how valued we are in our Father's eyes. It’s not easy to leave everything behind and go against God’s wishes for our lives. It’s not easy to realize our mistakes and come home. And it’s not easy to watch someone receive countless opportunities when you believe they aren’t living the life of purpose that you are.
Just know this one truth—we are all worthy in God’s eyes. And there’s more than enough of God’s love and forgiveness to go around.
Questions:
Are you running from God? What’s keeping you from returning home to him?
Next Steps:
Pray for healing when you find it difficult to support someone who has fallen. Introduce others to Jesus’ life-changing adventure by inviting them to church or to join a Group.
Prayer:
God, I am blessed to know your love. It has humbled me and made learning more of your truth easier. I am lost without knowing you are with me wherever I go. I pray that everyone will release their fears to you and return to where they belong. Amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Ecclesiastes 9:17
“Better to hear the quiet words of a wise person than the shouts of a foolish king.”