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The Prodigal Son
Message #20 (of 20) from the PrayerPower radio series "Confession"
When David confessed and repented of his sins in Psalm 51, he’d fallen pretty far -- pride, anger, adultery, murder. He was forgiven because he was willing to admit his sins and confess them, asking for God’s mercy. Though David was a king, he came as a prodigal son, in the same sense of humility that Jesus spoke of in His parable from Luke 15. You know the story well; the rich young man demanded his inheritance and left home to live his own way. He lost everything and ended up hungry, deciding, "I will go home to my father and say, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and am no longer worthy of being called your son.’" The young man returned home, and "while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming, and was filled with loving pity and ran and embraced him and kissed him." His father said, "we must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has returned to life. He was lost and is found." [Luke 15:11-24, TLB] The prodigal son was able to return to his father. He was still his son; the relationship was never broken, only the fellowship between them. He was able to be forgiven because he was willing to return and ask for forgiveness, setting aside his pride. That is the picture Jesus gave us -- the son returning, in humility. The father didn’t run after his son, he waited for him to come to his senses and make the choice to return. Are we there yet? Is our Lord watching for our return?
Pray with me now -- Lord, thank you for King David. Thank you for this parable. Thank you for affirming to us that you wait for us with open arms. Amen.
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