The return
The prodigal son: The return
In the passage, Luke 15:11-32, The son asks for his inheritance and leaves. The father granted his request and sent him on his way. During his son's absence, he prayed for his son. The father’s materials the son requested meant nothing compared to having his son with him. I believe the father never stopped praying for his son during his absence in hopes of his return.
During the initial time away from his father with his inheritance, he had what he felt was a great time. Only after the son had squandered his wealth and experienced humility was he drawn back to the father. When you find yourself begging to eat with the pigs, it’s a surefire bet you’ve hit a level of humility you’ll never want to experience again. The ultimate humility would be what Jesus experienced when persecuted and crucified.
You may have someone you desperately want to be drawn back to Christ in your life.
Unfortunately, some can have hearts of stone.
Hardened because of strife
Life experiences
Even like the pharaoh in Egypt, God can harden the heart.
Facts will mean nothing to them, until they are brought to Christ by the conviction of the Holy Spirit and their free will to act.
“Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.”
Proverbs 23:9 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.23.9.NKJV
“Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.”
Proverbs 26:4-5 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.26.4-5.NKJV
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/jer.29.11.NIV
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.”
Proverbs 14:12 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/pro.14.12.NIV
We always want things done in our time and often forget that God has a more excellent plan. A bigger picture. A righteous purpose that we may not entirely, and in some cases, never understand. We may see our prayers answered instantly or wait until our last breath to see something come to pass. We may never see it come to pass, but someone who plants a tree seed understands that they may never get to feel the benefits of its shade. But the seed is planted and will eventually produce a harvest.
It’s when we seek God’s presence in our prayer closet and show that love of God through our livelihood and testimony that others will be drawn back to Christ. Usually, a catalyst ignites the kindling to repentance, to Christ, to the cross. When that happens, God, the Holy Spirit, can work in our hearts to reconcile the pain and the hurt.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.11.28.NIV
“Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “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. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: 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.’ So 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. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “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. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘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 again; he was lost and is found.’ ””
Luke 15:11-32 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/luk.15.11-32.NIV
