Part One of the Prodigal Son

One of the most beautiful love stories in the Bible is found in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Now, in this first (of two) podcasts I’ve only given you ½ the love story. P.S. Part two will ‘reveal’ that the father’s unconditional love for his son existed...whether his son was behaving righteously or unrighteously! (More on this thought in part two.)   

Listen to me carefully! It’s important that Believers GRASP that even though their Heavenly Father loves His children dearly…HE will not ‘chase after them’ IF they choose wrong over right. The father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (much like our Heavenly father) never stopped loving his son when he was ‘up to his eyeballs’ in sin. But God’s character is such that HE will not ‘run’ and ‘rescue’ His children from their sinful ways! Now, the sin of the Prodigal Son started long before he got involved in sexual immorality and other licentious sins. The sins of the son started in his heart and mind while he was still at home with his father. Unfortunately, instead of ‘dealing with’ his selfish, sinful thoughts…the son allowed the sin thoughts to linger. And once that happened...the son’s sinful flesh ‘got control’ of his actions!

You see…the father’s unconditional love for his son didn’t mean that he was going to ‘over-look’ or ‘ignore’ his rebellious son’s sinful behaviors! And that’s because true (biblical type) love is expressed by doing what’s best for someone…even IF that someone doesn’t receive it! Now the father could have chased after his son (as he was leaving) and beg and pleaded with him to not leave. But that’s NOT God’s way! The Lord believes that most times…what’s ‘best’ for His thick-skulled, rebellious, wayward, obstinate children is to go thru a little pain and suffering. That seems to ‘refresh’ their brains on how well they had it before they got selfish and whiny! 

Psalms 119:66-67,71 ​Teach me good discernment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments. ​Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your Word. ​It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your Statutes.             

Speaking the Truth (in love) because so few are these days, 

Brother Bob