Learning from the Prodigal Son

‘When he came to his senses...’ Luke 15:17 NIV

Do you have a prodigal heart? The parable of the prodigal son teaches us that by listening to God we can avoid tragedy; that by living under His rule we’re saved from our misguided tendencies. Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said…”Father, give me my share”… Not long after…[he]…set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine…and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out…to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.’ (Luke 15:11-16 NIV) When God says no, heed Him. When He pulls back on the reins, thank Him. It’s better to be alone and walk with God than be surrounded by those who’ll hurt you. Prodigal, things won’t improve until you start doing things God’s way! Are you willing to repent and come back home? In three back-to-back parables, in Luke 15, Jesus pointed out that the shepherd went looking for his lost sheep, the woman went looking for her lost silver, but nobody went looking for the lost son. That’s because he knew the way back. And it happened when ‘he came to his senses’. The rebel who left home saying, ‘Give me,’ humbled himself and came back saying, ‘Forgive me.’ When he did, his father embraced him and said, ‘This son of mine was…lost and is found…’ (Luke 15:24 NIV) Today your Heavenly Father is waiting to welcome you home.