Before I get into my thoughts I have to tell you a story.....well two stories. First a parable....
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.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So 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. 29 But 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. 30 But 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. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Now my story....
A few days ago a friend of mine saw Brantley Gilbert in San Antonio and sent me a video of him singing. I don't know why but it got me thinking that I didn't have any music of his on my Spotify channel. So away I went to add some of my future husbands music to my playlist. Usually I just had 4 or 5 of their top songs to the playlist but something different happened on this day. I decided to scroll though his work and add song titles I found interesting. Of these songs one of them was A Modern Day Prodigal Son. Why did I add this one? I loved it because it is about one of my all time favorite biblical stories.
So here is the song please listen closely and and lyrics are in the video....
This song got me thinking.....what is your modern day prodigal story? What part did you play? Where you the one to return, the brother that was jealous, or the loving father that welcomed the son home?
Part of the reason I love this story is one, because I learned I am not the only one in the family that loves it and two, everytime I hear it something changes for me. Me role changes, my ideas change, my feelings change, something changes.
Everyone turns away from something at some point in their lives. I have turned away from the church, from my faith, and occasionally from my friends. Those moments were some of the hardest I have ever had to go through but they taught me something. When you turn back and return the love and celebration that occurs is crazy. For instance, when I returned to a church after not going for a while, they welcomed me with open arms and loving hearts. They have been my home for the last year because I am one of the lost sheep that returned home. It is those moments that I feel like the son that has returned. But really everyone has been that brother. It is easy to see what that brother has gone through.
What about the father? What was he going through? I mean he technically lost a son. As I type this I think of another song that comes to mind. Listen to this song.....and yes it is country again. Sorry
That is a dad that lost everything. And yet he never gave up. He waited.....and can you imagine that joy and celebration this Dad had when his daughter returned. He never gave up on her, never gave up hope. It makes me think that maybe the father in the Prodigal Son never gave up. He hoped and prayed that his son would return. Upon seeing his son again the joy that overtook him was unimaginable. He celebrated with the fattest calf. His message was answered and his son returned.
So what do you think? What does the prodigal con mean to you? And really there is no right or wrong answer. This story can mean so many things. It all depends on what is going on when you hear it. And that is what is so amazing about this story. It can shift and form to be whatever God needs it to be and when it changes it will hit us in an amazing and forceful way.
And that right there is one reason I love the bible. It is a true living, breathing, piece of work. While the words never change it is constantly shifting in meaning and ideas for each and every one of us. What I hear might not be exactly what you hear. What hits my soul might not even touch yours. And isn't that just amazing! The Bible never gets old.....it is a timeless piece of work.
The word is alive and this story, this Prodigal son and Modern Day Prodigal Son proves that. It is a timeless piece that will constantly alter how we look at this world.
So sorry for all the country but I hope you take it all to heart.
Love you all and God Bless!
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