Praying for a prodigal ...
In our holiday two-week series on Luke 15 we are discovering again the story Jesus creates and tells revealing God's heart for those who are far from Him. It is such a powerful and beautiful story reminding us again of the amazing grace of God. Jesus was being accused of not being a man of God for He hung out with and loved sinners (Luke 15:1). So in response Jesus tells three stories; the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7), the parable of the lost coin (Luke 15:8-10) and the parable of the lost son (Luke 15:11-32).
These stories are designed to reveal God's heart for lost people - sinners - those who have rejected Him and are far from Him. The main thrust or point of the parable of the lost or prodigal son is really that of the older brother for he represents the Scribes and Pharisees - those who were religious and/or legalistic but did not have a heart for the things the Father does.
But in telling this story Jesus also paints such a powerful and wonderful picture of the grace of the Father being poured out upon the prodigal son. It is so moving and overwhelming. The story has so many elements that we could go on and on but I will get to the point of this news item.
I wanted to provide some encouragement and comfort to parents who have a prodigal son or daughter. So here is a sermon delivered years ago by Pastor Jim Cymbala (pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle). This sermon is really a prophetic call to the church to come back to a core function of being a house of prayer. But in this sermon Jim tells the story of when their daughter ran from God and from them as parents and how God used the prayers of His people to bring her back.
Parent, watch and listen to this sermon and I pray that in so doing God will encourage and comfort you that He is sovereign and in control and can be trusted to care for our children when you no longer have influence. But also I pray that God will use this to strengthen your resolve that absolutely the BEST thing you can do for your prodigal is to pray. So pray parent pray!
Norm