“He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ ”
–Luke 15:31-32
The parable of the Prodigal Son is found in Luke 15.
In this story, Jesus tells about a father with two sons. The older son is hardworking, conscientious, loyal, and responsible. The younger son is willful and rebellious. He asks the father for his inheritance in advance so he can go “find himself.” The father gives it to him, he leaves, wastes it all, ends up on the streets, comes to his senses, and goes back home to ask forgiveness and for a job so that he can prove himself to be a changed and more mature man.
When the younger son returns, the older son gets upset.
He feels he’s being slighted and taken for granted. He says, “I’ve been here all along and you’ve never given me the kind of party and attention you’re giving him — just because he figured out what a fool he’d been.”
The father was sad to hear the older son talk like that. He says, “Everything I have is yours. It always has been. You could have been enjoying it all this time, but you’ve never acted like you wanted to.”
Don’t be like the older son.
Don’t settle for being a lukewarm child of God. Don’t ignore all the blessings God wants to give you. Don’t ignore His love.
Ask Him to give you everything He wants to give you, and then plant yourself in His presence so you can receive His wonderful gifts.
Prayer
Dear Lord, Help me to be both humble and excited to be in Your presence. Help me be obedient and faithful so You can rejoice over me every single day. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Reflection
What sins do I need to repent of so I can receive God’s blessings?