The Father Made the Difference

Yesterday’s sermon covered an often-told Bible story.  We revisited the story of the prodigal son.  Many of us are familiar with analyzing the son’s actions.  We talk about how he wanted it all now.  We speak of his impatience and foolishness and then rejoice over his return to himself.  The sermon, however, focused on the father’s love and the fact that the father’s love made all the difference.  Let’s dive into it.

Luke 15:11-32 recounts the tale of the prodigal son.  Jesus often spoke in parables to make His points more relatable to the audience.  It was an opportunity to help others see themselves and recognize their fallacies.  In this parable, there is a man with two sons.  The younger son requests his inheritance.  The father obliges.  The son goes to a far country and lives his best life.  He lives his best life so well that all his money runs out.  Famine is in the land.  He gets hungry.  He gets desperate.  He makes the choice to return home.

One of the most touching parts of the story is that the father was watching for the son’s return.  While the son is still a great way off, the father sees him.  He doesn’t stand on the porch and play it cool.  He doesn’t pretend that he doesn’t know it’s his son.  The father runs to son.  He falls on his son’s neck.  He kisses his son.  He is glad that his son made the choice to return home.  No condemnation.  The father’s watchfulness has paid off.  His lost son has found his way home.  He has been preparing for the son’s return the entire time that he was been in a far-off country.  And now that his son has returned, he will be restored to his rightful place.

Now, we have to remember that the prodigal son came home because he exhausted all of his resources.  So, he’s probably looking like what he’s been through.  Broke down.  Busted.  Disgusted.  His good father, his loving father can’t stand to see his child looking that way.  He calls for the BEST robe.  He requests that they put a ring on the son’s hand and sandals on his feet.  He wants them to kill the fatted calf and get the party started.  His lost son has been found.  There is reason to celebrate.

I KNOW that’s what I looked like before I accepted Jesus.  A hot mess.  But if I can be completely honest, there have been times that I looked like that after I accepted Jesus.  Am I the only one like that?  I can get beside myself.  Or start smelling myself as the old saints say.  I feel that I know best, so I wander.  Off into the far country.  A short stroll turns into a long journey.  I’ve lost myself.  Then one day, I realize that I don’t have to continue to wander.  I turn back to God.  He’s right there with the BEST waiting for me.  It’s a celebration!  Well, at least it is for me.  It would be too simple if this was the end of the story.  But come on now, we live in the world with people. 

While the younger son was out in the streets, the older son was working.  He was doing what he was supposed to do.  As a matter of fact, while he was out in the field, he heard music AND dancing.  You know the party is something serious if he HEARD dancing.  Maybe the brother joined a fraternity while he was gone and had the servants stepping with him.  Anyways…He asks a servant what’s going on.  The servant lets him know that his younger brother has returned home.  The older brother is furious.  He refuses to go to the house party.  He doesn’t want to join in with the stepping.  And once again, the father shows up and show out.

The father reminds the older son that all that the father has belongs to the older son as well.  He has not withheld anything from him.  The father has had the pleasure to spend time with the older son.  He wasn’t lost.  He reminds his son that it’s a blessing to be found.  Being found is a reason to celebrate.  He doesn’t want his sons to live in a contentious state.  He wants them to live in harmony.  The father makes the effort to reconcile the brothers.

While it would be easy to point fingers at the older brother, I think it’s easy to get into his mindset.  He was at home.  He never left.  He was doing the work.  He was like many people that have been in church all their lives.  The faithful saints that have been doing the work.  Showing up on Sundays, Wednesdays, and any day in between.  Consistent.  And consistently missing the point.  The father reminds him and us that we can rejoice for those who have been lost and are found.  Yes, we’ve been in house, and we’ve been working.  That also means that we have been in close proximity to the Father.  We have had access to Him and all His many blessings the whole time.  So, we should celebrate with those who have found their way home.

A good Father makes all the difference.  #wepreach

Let’s talk about it:

• Do you ever feel taken for granted or underappreciated?
• When was the last time that you celebrated someone else?
• Have you ever wandered away from a relationship with a local church?
  • If yes, were you compelled to return? Why or why not?
• Have you wandered away from a relationship with Jesus Christ?
• What qualities are seen in good fathers?