I visited my cousin’s church this past Sunday. I knew it was a satellite campus, so when it was time for the sermon, I was pleased to see the pastor walk up to the podium.
I enjoyed the message and his perspective on the prodigal son from Luke 15:11–32. He shared how, when the younger son asked for his inheritance, he was — in his own way — running away from his father.
As Luke tells us, he squandered everything. Then a famine hit the far country where he was living, and he found himself in great need. Realizing he would be better off as a servant in his father’s house than where he was, he began the journey home.
One line from the sermon has stayed with me:
“The famine was in the far country. It was not in the father’s house.”
The father’s house was not lacking. It was steady… still… full. And yet, I imagine the father never stopped thinking of his son — longing for him, praying for him, and watching for his return.
I believe that is the heart of a loving father. And how much more so our heavenly Father, who loves us deeply — even in our running, even in our prodigal moments.
As the pastor said, God loves the runaways.
And we should not give up on them either.
Those people we have prayed for — over and over again — the ones we may have quietly written off… God has not. His desire is still the same: that they come home, or come for the very first time, to the Father’s house.
He is always there, waiting with open arms.
“22 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: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” Luke 15:22–24 (KJV)
There is a prodigal I have prayed for over the past twenty-six years. I have never met them and do not know their name — I only crossed paths with them once. Still, something will occasionally trigger that memory, and I find myself praying again.
I hope I never stop.
I know God won’t.
(That is a whole blog post I hope to write someday.)
Keep praying for your prodigals.
And one more thing…
After church, I looked around for the pastor because I wanted to speak with him. He was nowhere to be found. I didn’t learn until later that evening that he had not been there at all. It truly was a satellite service — he was on the screen, not the stage!
[Smack my head!]
Yes, my vision is pretty low, but seriously… during the whole message I kept thinking, “He sure is kind of tall!” Afterward, I couldn’t figure out how I had missed him in the crowd.
Invite someone to church this Easter.
They could be someone else’s prodigal.
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What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Jesus? You can know Him. Jesus Christ—God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day—will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity. You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth. In addition, here is an excellent page that can give you additional information on peace with God: PeaceWithGod.net.
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Blog Image by Amber Clay from Pixabay
Restricted Vision, Unburdened Sight 