Luke 15:11-24:
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The 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. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He 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 servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 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.
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. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
*"My dad is person whom I disgrace the most but I'm going to go back to the one who provided me food, just to survive"
*What would we do if our children are really leading disgraceful lives?
*This is not just a gateway party when parent's are not around
*Normally, fathers who have experience this would just give his son food and shelter without wanting to see his face until he decides what to do with him.
However...
v20: 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.
*He gets a party.
*Instead of retribution, he gets a celebration
*His father was not only merciful but grace his disgusting son with a party
*He did not know when He was coming back but he ran, hug and kiss his son who wished he was dead.
*All he did was turn up and he got a new identity (sandals, robe, ring, etc)
The key of being a Christian
*To know and experience the powerful love and forgiveness of God
*NOT to be smart and all good
*God is calling us to come home with him
*We feel that we are not good enough for God (explicit or implicitly)
*The good person is the father, not the son
*We care so much about doing good but the fact is we are never going to be good enough because God is ever so good.
*So this allows God to forgive us and show his unconditional love to us
*He just wants to welcome us home when we decide to return
*Are we willing to participate with God to call others home?
*We should just remove our strict religious rules and join the party with Jesus
*He is iching to call all of us home
*Sometimes we do not give chance to our friends because we are in line with God and not others.
*For that, we are being judgemental
*However, they are the ones we should welcome with open arms.
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
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