Morning Devotional

November 2, 2004
"The Prodigal (Part 2)"

by Don Emmitte

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To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: "A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, `I want my share of your estate now, instead of waiting until you die.' So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. "A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and took a trip to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money on wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him to feed his pigs. The boy became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.” (Luke 15:14-16 NLT).

Yesterday, in the first of this little series, I said that hopelessness often is a part of being lost. That’s the impact of Jesus’ story of this young man who was in the fields feeding the pigs. He had been the golden boy that had everything. He was the second son from a man that at least had an “estate”. To have an estate indicates that you have at least acquired some assets. The father was wealthy. He had means to give his son good things. Perhaps he had spoiled the young boy a little too much, we just don’t know, but we do know the father at least had “a fatted calf”, a “best robe”, and could “put a ring on his finger”. That indicates a certain lifestyle. Imagine that the son gave up this lifestyle, took his money and ran, so to speak. After it was all gone, he found himself in a hopeless situation. If you are lost you have been there and done that. You know that where you are is not the best place to be. Being separated from God’s best for you will grow to the point of being miserable.

I remember an incident when Kyle (our oldest son) had tried out for the basketball team in high school. He had enjoyed that sport when he was younger. Although he was not blessed with height, he was a good shot and played excellent defense. I never imagined that he would not be good enough to make the team. I received a call to come and pick him up early at the school the final day of tryouts. I found him sitting on the curb with his head in his hands, He was miserable. He had not been given a jersey. He had not been chosen for the team. I was surprised. He was dejected and miserable. Like any dad, I began to console him. We talked on the way back home and he seemed to feel a little better. I explained that whether he made the team or not, my love for him would never change. I have always tried to express to the boys that love is based on who they are, not what they do. By the way, that’s the message of God to all of us! Before we arrived at home, my secretary called from the church and told me to take Kyle back to the high school immediately. There had been a mistake and the coach merely overlooked giving him a jersey!

No matter how hopeless your situation seems. Even when the devil has convinced you that you “didn’t make the team.” God has other plans for you! Call out to him and ask him to help you. He is just waiting to welcome you back with a robe for your back, rings for your fingers, and sandals for your feet. He has a grand party planned to celebrate your homecoming!