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How a Father's Love Brought a Prodigal Home
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Bob Johnston
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Nov 05, 2003 04:05 PST
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HOW A FATHER’S LOVE BROUGHT A PRODIGAL HOME
When I met Bill he was a prodigal, having brought great grief to his
father (a minister) and his mother. Now two life threatening
experiences had awakened him to the brevity of life and he was ready to
change; to return to the faith of his parents from whose home he had
fled during his early teens.
Most of us have had prodigal times. Charles Colson, of Prison
Fellowship, says if a person claims this has never happened to him, he
may lie about other things too.
Our Lord once let his hearers in on the experience of a man who had two
sons, one of whom became a prodigal. Chafing under the monotony of
working on the family farm, he asked his father for his inheritance in
advance and on receiving it headed out of the country to fulfill his
dreams, which, sadly, soon became nightmares. He had expected
adventure, prosperity and romance, but, instead, found adversity,
poverty and rags, finally ending up in a job feeding hogs and so hungry
he felt like eating with them.
There in the pigpen, the prodigal realized how foolish he had been and
decided to head for home. Humbled and repentant, he prepared the
following speech for his homecoming: “Father, I have sinned against
heaven and before you, and am no more worthy to be called your son.
Make me like one of your hired servants” (Luke 15:18-19).
Many fathers grieve over wayward sons or daughters, often blaming
themselves for the present lifestyles of their prodigals. Here,
however, there is not one negative word spoken about this loving father.
Why then did the prodigal son rebel and leave home?
We don’t know. And your guilt over a wayward child may be unwarranted.
We do know that while the father’s love didn’t prevent his son from
leaving, it brought him home. What loving qualities in the father’s
life made this possible?
He was approachable. When his younger son longed to claim his
inheritance early and try his wings, he felt free to talk to his father.
Some sons might have slipped out in the night or asked another to
intercede, but not this one. The father’s openness enabled him to
expect open ears and arms even when coming home in rags smelling like a
pigpen.
He was affectionate. When the prodigal approached the old homestead, he
saw his father in the distance scanning the horizon, looking for him, as
he had been doing ever since he had left. There was no giving up with
this loving father. He kept watching and praying until his prayers were
answered.
Another father of a prodigal was once asked by a friend how things were
with his son.
“Not good,” the concerned father replied.
“If he were my son, I’d forget him,” said the friend.
“Yes,” said the modern prodigal’s father, “if he were your son I
would forget him too, but he’s my son so I’ll keep loving him and
praying for his return.”
When the prodigal’s father saw him coming, he ran to embrace and kiss
him. The father in this parable represents God, so this is the only
example we have in the Bible of God running. Our heavenly Father longs
for the return of all wayward ones.
He was assuring in every situation. When the prodigal began his
planned confession, his father cut him short, not allowing him to
finish.
This was no time to focus on past failures.
It was time to forgive and celebrate the prodigal’s return and the
father’s love that brought him home.
© 2003 by Roger Campbell
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May you be blessed today
Bob Johnston
Sand Dollar Publisher
Minneapolis
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