Luke 15:11 And He said, A certain man had two sons. (12) And the younger of them said to the father, Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me. And he distributed to them his living. (13) And not many days after, the younger son, having gathered everything together, went abroad to a distant country and there squandered his estate by living dissolutely. (14) And when he had spent all, a severe famine occurred throughout that country, and he began to be in want. (15) And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed hogs. (16) And he longed to be satisfied with the carob pods which the hogs were eating, and no one gave him anything. (17) But when he came to himself, he said, How many of my father's hired servants abound in bread, but I am perishing here in famine! (18) I will rise up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. (19) I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants. (20) And he rose up and came to his own father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and he ran and fell on his neck and kissed him affectionately.
[Part 1 of 2] In verse 19 we see that the prodigal intended to say to his father, "I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants." This indicates that the prodigal son did not know the Father's love. A fallen sinner having once repented always thinks of working for God or serving God to obtain His favor, not knowing that this thought is against God's love and grace and is an insult to His heart and intent. The father's seeing the son did not happen by chance. Rather, the father went out of the home to look for his prodigal's return. When the father saw his son, he ran to him and fell on his neck and kissed him affectionately. This indicates that God the Father runs to receive a returning sinner. What eagerness this shows! The father's falling on his son's neck and kissing him affectionately shows a warm and loving reception. If we read carefully the parable of the loving father, we shall see that while the prodigal son was still squandering the father's riches, the father was waiting for him to come back. When the son came to himself and decided to go to his father, he prepared what he would say to him: "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants" (15:18-19). What would you have said to the father if you had been the prodigal son in this parable? Perhaps you would have said to yourself, "...I feel ashamed and foolish for squandering everything my father gave me. I cannot bear to recall the way I have been living. I know for sure that my father will not be outside waiting for me...." To the prodigal son's great surprise, "While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion; and he ran and fell on his neck and kissed him affectionately" (v. 20). Perhaps the prodigal said to himself, "This is like a dream! I didn't call out or knock on the door, but my father comes running to me. Now he is embracing me and kissing me!" [Continued tomorrow]
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of Luke, pp. 294, 300. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].
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