Approximate reading time: 3 minutes

¹¹ Then Yeshua said, “A certain man had two sons, ¹² and the younger of them said to the father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that comes to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them.

This is a relationship strain that none of us ever want to experience. What the son is really saying is You are dead to me. That must have wounded the Father more than words can tell. 

¹³ “Not many days later, the younger son gathered everything and traveled to a far country, and there he squandered his inheritance on wild living. ¹⁴ Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine came against that country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ And he was longing to fill up on the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one was giving him any.

And so the son goes to a far country. He separated himself from home and hearth; from Daddy and Daddy’s world.  And lived life his way. And in time he found himself where no self-respecting Jewish boy would ever be – slopping hogs. Very unclean! 

¹⁷ “But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have food overflowing, but here I am dying of hunger! ¹⁸ I’ll get up and go to my father, and I’ll say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your presence. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.

This my beloved friends is repentance – coming to one’s senses. Coming to the place we agree WITH GOD. Repentance doesn’t mean, necessarily, we come to agreement horizontally but it is absolutely necessary to AGREE WITH GOD, which enables us to make peace horizontally. 

²⁰ “And he got up and went to his own father. But while he was still far away, his father saw him and felt compassion. He ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. ²¹ Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your presence. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

And so repentance took legs. He got up and went. He acknowledged his sin, he was willing to bear whatever consequences. No more blaming others. He owned his sins. 

You know what I highly admire about this Father? His love for his son restrained him from chasing after his son, but he consistently stood on that front porch, looking down the road, waiting for that far off glimpse of his son coming home. 

²² “But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him! Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it! Let’s celebrate with a feast! ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and has come back to life—he was lost and is found!’ Then they began to celebrate.  source 

Forgiveness was full and the celebrating was grand!

Selah ~ ~ ~