Based on the story of the Prodigal Son where 'prodigal' means one who is given to wasteful luxury.
Most teens can be related in this story. Where we just want to get out from the house and do our own thing and have fun. Sometimes without having a second though.
Here we can see that the son demanded to have his inheritance give to him before his time. He already have the inheritance but it is not the time for him to use and be given to him. It's like giving a 12 year kid a BMW for his birthday. Although he is able to drive it but he lack judgement and is not ready for the responsibility. You expect someone to get hurt. But in the story, his father love him so much until he gave it to him.
After that, He when out far away to another land.The money was spent unwisely and the son indulge himself in 'wild living' the world that time could offer. He end up broke. At the same time, famine came and food was hard to come by, and he have to work as a foreign laborer in a pig farm. He have to get himself dirty and eat pig food.
He finally decide to return home, as he cannot stand it. He was in guilty as he realize the what did ( spending the father's money unwisely) was wrong and end up being a lowly labor. He expected his father to be horrifically angry. He even think that he would be not accepted in to the house and by his father. Thus,when he gets back,he though up about how to plead his father to accept him as a servant as even a servant live better then him currently.
However, when he return, his father saw him afar, and just rush to him without and hesitation. He got himself dirty( as the son work in the pig farm and probably didn't bathe as he is broke to go to any hotel to bathe ) by throwing his arms around him and kisses him ( in the cultural way). even though the son said the he was wrong toward him, the father just ignore him and dress him with proper attire.
from http://www.biblegateway.com/ :
11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. 13"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. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So 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.
21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22"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.23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But 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. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
31" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "
Just like our parents but especially our father in heaven is willing to give as he love us. And although we did wrong or stained in sin, we are still accepted as his children and waiting for us. As we return to him, we are clean again just like the father as the servants to bring new clothes for the son, we are given the authority as the father gives the son the ring and we are made a close part of the family and able to walk without dirtying our feet as the father gave him the saddles. By receiving this his appearance is recognized so his son ( identity ) and no a worker working in a pig farm.
So, we must NOT think ourselves of unworthy people as we committed sin or having practice hidden sins or being trapped by addiction. He always the waiting for you to come to him so He will cleanse you and to walk through it together and to be in his likeness ( like father like son) to find our identity as his children. So, never distant yourself when you face temptation or failure or even thinking you dont have any gifts or talent to serve him or compare yourself lowly to others.
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