Luke 15:11-20 (NIV)
The Parable of the Lost Son
11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
What does the passage mean:
The younger son initiated the division of the estate. This showed arrogant disregard for his father's authority as head of the family. After that, he got what he had and leave the home. He was spent everything in wild living. The younger son, like many who are rebellious and immature, wanted to be free to lives as he pleased, and he had to hit bottom before he came to his senses. It often takes great sorrow and tragedy to cause people to look to the ONLY one who can help them. Are you trying like life in your own way, selfishly pushing aside any resposibility or commitment that gets in your way? Stop and look before you hit bottom. However, in the passage, the father watched and waited. As a Father, he wish his younger son will back home soon. He was ready to welcome his younger son if he returned. In the same way, God's love is constant and patient and welcoming. He will search for us and givee us opportunities to respond, but he will not force us to come to him. Like the Father in the passage, God waits patiently for us to come to our senses. God's greater love reaches out and finds sinners no matter why and how they got lost. Sometime, it may hard for us to forgive people who hurt us before or done the mistake before. In the passage, the father forgive his younger son because he was filled with love. Like Jesus Christ, he died on the cross for our sins because He love us. Don't let anything keep you from forgiving others. If you are refusing to forgive people, you are missing a wonderful opportunity to experience joy and share it with others.
Make your joy grow: forgive somebody who has hurt you.
REFERENCE: LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE
