SUNDAY LEFTOVERS: This is not about food. Think of it as a doggie bag filled with the essence of a Sunday Sermon. It might be something that stood out to me that I want to investigate further, something I might need to work on in my life, or maybe just an uplifting quote that is “Refrigerator Worthy” (RW) as our pastor often says. It might be me putting a sermon into my own words to help me remember it and internalize it. Whatever it is, I hope it will help both you and me in our walk with God.
The Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-32
How many of us have not heard the Parable of the Lost Son or as it is frequently called, the Parable of the Prodigal Son. It is a very well known parable of Jesus, at least for those of the Christian faith. But I wonder how many know what the word “prodigal” means? Well, I, for one, am embarrassed to admit that I had never looked up the definition. I have alway just thought of it as meaning “lost,” since this is the parable of the lost son.
In the sermon yesterday, our guest speaker, gave us the definition and I was surprised to find out that it means “characterized by wasteful or extravagant spending or lavishness.” Prodigal comes from the Latin word prodigus, from prodigere which means to squander or drive away. So we now know that “prodigal” is referring to the son’s squandering of his inheritance from his father, not to his being “lost” to him. His prodigality is what caused him to be lost to his father.
There are a lot of things to be learned from this parable. One thing that came to me yesterday is that we are all prodigals. Is there anyone of us who has not at some time in our lives, been willfully wasteful of what God has given to us? One can be prodigal with many things other than wealth…how about love or our time, just to name two.
It is good to know that we have a Father who is willing to forgive us our prodigality and restore us to a right relationship with Him. Not only is he willing, but he, like the father in the parable, anxiously awaits for His prodigals to return to him.
Is there anything that you’ve wasted or squandered? Today would be a good day to talk to your Father about it. I am certain that He, like the father in Jesus’s story, will welcome you with compassion and will rejoice!
Hope you have a week filled with blessings,
VElish Art Studio 
I love the story of the prodigal son! I love reading of how his father runs to greet him,and hugs his neck and celebrates his return with a feast! That's how God loves us!
I am so happy to be a child of God!
xoxox, Daffy
LikeLike
I love it too-and my favorite part is where the father has been watching and looking for his son to return. There was hope in his heart, and total forgiveness.
I love you too!
Debra
LikeLike
Lovely and tasty leftovers 😉 Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
I hate wasting time! I always feel that I should be doing something! But I do realize that there is a time for everything, even rest!
Lovely post Vicki! Love Di ♥
LikeLike
The Prodigal is one of those wonderful stories that you can read over and over, and still find a new treasure buried inside. Thanks for sharing this!
LikeLike
With this parable, I often think of the “other” son, the one who stayed, the one who worked hard and didn't squander or waste what was given to him…what did he do? He was angry and resentful. The Father was happy & wanted to throw a party for the prodigal. The other son refused to go to the party, saying basically “It's not fair.”
Wow! How many times are we like that, with our attitudes wrong & our hearts in the wrong place, sure of what we deserve and what someone else doesn't. It's about entitlement thinking. That kind of thinking only leads to a bad place. It's a great reminder to check ourselves & perhaps readjust our views.
Love this parable. Thanks for a great post.
Cheers,
Jo
LikeLike