“14. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18. I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19. And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”
This chapter of scripture is known as the parable of the prodigal son. The son wanted all of his inheritance before his father had even passed on, as he makes separation from his father’s house he adventures to the world for his happiness. There are many born again believers that have been at this place in their life. Some are there right now, and some that may even be stepping in that direction. Where are you today? There was a pastor that once said people get out of church long before they ever get out of church. You say; what does that mean? Many people treat the house of God nothing more than a ritual practice for Sunday morning and walk out no different than they walked in. If you step out of church on Sunday morning without a desire to live a more holy life, there are one of two problems; you are in a dead church where the truth is not being preached or its you! The story of the prodigal son is a place where many Christian sportsman and women are today; searching for happiness in the world. I John 2:15 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” As the fall hunting season gets closer, many Christians are already beginning to draw away from the Lord and focus on what they think will make them happy. There is nothing sinful about hunting, unless it has priority over everything else in your life. Very soon, Sunday will be a day in the woods, not a day in the Word. Some say they have church in the stand, but that’s the most unbiblical thing anyone could say. Church involves music that glorifies God, its a gathering together of believers to hear a message preached from a man of God. Its easy to point a finger and say that drugs, alcohol, and unfaithfulness is the cause of broken homes, though they have an effect, its important to realize that many wives and kids are neglected because dad spends too much time in the backwoods chasing a wild animal. As the hunting sales climb there will be many homes struggle financially because dad is buying a bunch of things he don’t need and cant afford. What is the cause of a prodigal son? Its a child of God who looks to the world for success and happiness. Don’t let hunting be the priority in your life. It doesn’t fill the void and surely never will! Sunday is a day to worship the Savior! Looking back to the prodigal son we can see that he tried to fill his life with the world and ended up at the hog pen. Some Christians are at the hog pen now, and some are on their way! An important verse to note is vs 17; the Bible says: “And when he came to himself.” If you ever want to be right with God again you must come to yourself and realize that life is not about you, its about Jesus Christ! The prodigal began to remember how much better things were when he was right with his father. Even as a servant, he knew he would be much better off than the place he was in. If your in that place today Christian, your much better off being in fellowship with the One who loves you more than anyone ever has. Vs 18 shows us what has to be done in order to get right: “I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,” Repentance is the first step to a restored fellowship with God. I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The hog pen is not fun, and its no place anyone would ever want to be. Maybe your not there yet, maybe you are, God loves you and He’s always waiting for His children to return home! Look at vs 20 “But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” Hunting may not be your struggle, but you know what it is! Don’t let sin control your life!
Memory Verse Week 7/30/18
I John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
