The Prodigal Son – Always Welcome Home
Luke 15:11-32 (NIV)
Jesus told this story. A man had two sons. The younger son demanded his inheritance early. The father gave it to him. The son went to a distant country and wasted everything on wild living.
A severe famine struck. The son had no money and no food. He hired himself out to feed pigs, but he was so hungry he wished he could eat the pig's food. Finally, he came to his senses. He said, “My father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving! I will go back to my father and say, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’”
While he was still far away, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. The son confessed his sin, but the father interrupted him. He told his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”
The older brother was angry and refused to join the celebration. But the father gently reminded him, “You are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive; he was lost and is found.”
Moral: No matter how far you've wandered, God is waiting with open arms. His love is relentless.
A severe famine struck. The son had no money and no food. He hired himself out to feed pigs, but he was so hungry he wished he could eat the pig's food. Finally, he came to his senses. He said, “My father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving! I will go back to my father and say, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’”
While he was still far away, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. The son confessed his sin, but the father interrupted him. He told his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”
The older brother was angry and refused to join the celebration. But the father gently reminded him, “You are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive; he was lost and is found.”
Moral: No matter how far you've wandered, God is waiting with open arms. His love is relentless.