...but the father said to 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!" Luke 15:22&23 [NIV]
Today I studied the “Parable of the Prodigal Son” and once again, as happens with almost all passages I read in God’s Word, the Holy Spirit reveals new biblical truths applicable to my life. Here are my notes from my quiet time this morning on this passage. [Reaction of the older son I will save for tomorrow]
The younger son is the one who left. The story focuses on the younger one at first. Is this message on potential pitfalls of spiritual immaturity?
The son sought after his own and the world’s desires which only led to loss, pain, and detriment: spiritual poverty and hopelessness. Forced to settle for slop for sustenance.
Son finally realized the place that following his own desires led him to. Resulted in a knowledge of what he could have back home even if he lowered himself to one of the servants. He started listening to the small voice in his head – in a spiritual sense he was hearing the Holy Spirit and call of God to return to a more righteous life which would also result in him getting his needs fulfilled regardless of the low status/position in his father’s house he would inhabit.
The son crafted a plan to return home and even practiced what he would say to his father…then he acted on that plan.
Upon his return the father saw him a ways off. The father had hoped for and anticipated his return. The father was waiting. When the father saw him, he rejoiced with glee.
The son humbled himself and accepted a place of the lowest position in the family. He acknowledged his own folly and poor choices.
The father immediately embraced and welcomed the son back and rather than accepting the lowly place the son petitioned, the father called for the finest robes, put the family ring on his finger, and sandals on his feet. The father then threw a celebration and feast; roasting the best fatted calf from his flock for the meal.
The celebration revolved around the dead son being alive again; the son that was lost had been found.
Application:
What an amazing picture of following our own choices and then realizing our hopelessness in absence of the protection of the Father. When we in our sinful state acknowledge the sinful nature of our own efforts, petition the Father for forgiveness by accepting what only His Son could do for us, He lavishes us with all of the rewards of heaven and an eternity as princes in His Kingdom. He gives us so many things we don’t deserve when we humble ourselves before Him.