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The Prodigal and Family
copyright © 2010 Debbie Turner Chavers
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The Prodigal is an example of choices and God's redeeming love for you and I. Most people at one time or another identify with being the prodigal son, but I want you to notice the pouting eldest son. It is hard to watch someone else use and abuse the mercy of God and not be offended, even as the elder son was offended. To work day in day out to do the right thing and still see it rain on the just and the unjust. But there is a need to remember that all that He is, all that He has, He has given to us, to those who would call upon His name and walk in fellowship with Him.
Luke 15: 31, And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
The very thing that causes me to worship God because of His goodness to me, makes it hard to understand the choice that He gives us all. The ability to chose, even if the choice is wrong.
God has no desire to see His children suffer, to be in want, to waste their inheritance. So chose life.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
I love where scripture says in Luke 15:17, And when he came to himself.
There is a need to recognize our total dependence on God, to come to our self.
That even though He allows us to chose, He is ever wooing us to himself and waiting with open arms to welcome us home after we repent from going our own way.
If you are the prodigal, repent and come home, God is waiting with open arms.
If you are the elder son, repent and enjoy the bounty of the Father, who has given all good things unto you.
~Debbie
Matthew 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
The parable of the prodigal:
Luke 15:11-32 And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to [his] father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth [to me]. And he divided unto them [his] living.
And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put [it] on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on [his] feet:
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill [it]; and let us eat, and be merry:
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
And he answering said to [his] father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
All writing, poetry, posts, art, and photography, copyright © 2011 Debbie Turner Chavers.
All Rights Reserved. Protected by US and International copyright laws.
Scripture references taken from the King James bible.
