“This Son Of Mine Was Dead
And Is Alive Again”
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.
Luke 15:11-24
Many
of us do stupid things when we are younger. Many times we pay for those
mistakes for the rest of our lives. There are also many of us who do dumb
things as we get older, and we pay for those mistakes, as well.
Whenever
a person ignores the guidance of godly parents and the instruction of God’s
Word, bad things happen. We think we know it all. We make the decisions that
affect our lives, without ever praying about the decision. God does not send us
to Hell, we send ourselves there.
Don’t
reject God’s teaching. You would be surprised when someone who professes to
know Jesus chooses a life that rejects God’s clear teaching. Whether the choices
include sexual sin, addictive substances, a lack of ambition, or something
else, any action that leaves God out risks ending
badly.
If
we ignore clear biblical morals and neglect our relationship with God, we can
expect trouble.
If sin were not deceitful, it wouldn’t seem delightful.
Our Daily Bread –