+++ The February series on Forgiveness is now available in the expanded and revised book Working through Forgiveness, for sale in the shop +++

Below is the un-revised introduction to the book. Enjoy!

The Prodigal son

Carries off his inheritance before his father has even grown old. Squanders it on high living. Squanders all of it. Ends in a job as a pig farmer and eats pig slop. Finally returns home, hoping at most to become his father’s servant, maybe tend his father’s pigs and eat real food.

Most of us know the story of the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15. It is interesting that the son is labeled prodigal – for the meaning is like a two-sided coin. Prodigal is both lavish (positive)and it is wastefully extravagant (negative). So, it would seem the father too is prodigal; this father is lavish.

The Prodigal Father

The father lavishly grants to the son’s desire to leave. He understands that a forced relationship is no relationship at all, and so releases his son. He remains confident in the teachings of the young man’s lifetime that he will not stray. But, like the 100 sheep and one who wanders off, here is the one who wanders off. The father likely goes to the end of the drive every day, looking for word of his son, asking at the city gates if anyone has heard anything of him.

The son finally realizes that his father is good. Did he really understand how good Our father is? Upon his return, he desires only the position of lowly servant. But this lavish father welcomes him back, forgives his indiscretions, and re-establishes him ‘son’. He throws a lavish feast in his honor!

Our Lavish Father

Indeed, we have a lavish Father in Heaven! He too has forgiven us and welcomes us back, calling us daughter and son, co-heirs with Christ.

The question that I have had in recent readings of this parable are more about the other son. He is the older son of this lavish father. This brother grows angry and says that he has never disobeyed an order. As I read it now again, it strikes me that perhaps this child has based the relationship on acts and not grace.

How many of us remain in the line of those who ‘do’ for God, we do and we do and we do. But we haven’t stepped into the life and role of child of the Master? In Luke 15:31, the lavish father says ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.’ Clearly this child has not claimed all that is his. He has not claimed his position.

We are Children of the King

We have been welcomed into the arms of God. We have been forgiven all wrongs and given access to all His good. Have we stepped into it? Have we thrown off the mantle of guilt and accepted the warmth of forgiveness?

Have we acknowledged and claimed his love? Because that is what this is.

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:9-11)

What have we asked? The son returns and asks for little but receives much. The older son asks nothing but does much. He does much out of obedience, not love. The father has sought love.

In His love, he has forgiven us and returned us in our rightful place as his children. It is for us to embrace Him, His love and His gifts! Run to the father!