Creator, Father, King #204

While he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

DOES A PORK CHOP dinner sound delicious to you? What about a hearty breakfast with a side of sausage or bacon? Do you enjoy vanilla pudding, cheesecake, or chocolate mousse?

Mmmmm!

Do you use soap, shampoo, and toothpaste daily? (Hope so!) Have you painted with a paintbrush or used sandpaper? Have you ever enjoyed listening to a violin?

If so, you should be thankful for pigs. All these products, and many more, come (in whole or in part) from our plump, porcine pals. Pigs might be stinky, but they are quite useful!

In ancient Israel, though, pigs were considered ceremonially unclean. So in Jesus’ famous parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, his original audience would’ve been shocked to hear the story’s starving protagonist rolling around in a pigpen, debasing himself by eating from a pig’s filthy feeding trough.

How had this man fallen into that wretched state? He was the rebellious, younger son of a wealthy landowner. Wanting to be his own master, he had traveled to a faraway land and squandered his inheritance in reckless living.

Penniless and alone, he resorted to feeding swine. When he finally came to his senses, he realized that returning to his father as a servant was better than wallowing in the muck.

But look above at today’s verse. What a beautiful picture of fatherly love and forgiveness!

The Prodigal Son’s father threw a party, announcing, “We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found” (verses 23-24).

What’s It Mean?

Like the Prodigal Son, we have all dishonored our heavenly Father, defiantly choosing the muck of sin over God’s love. But in his great mercy, the Lord did not immediately condemn us. Instead, he chose to redeem a people for himself through Jesus (Ephesians 1:4-7). Now, each time a sinner turns to him in repentance and faith, heaven erupts in boisterous celebration (Luke 15:7, 10).

Have you turned from your prodigal beginnings and into your Father’s embrace? Renounce sin and run to God. His love and forgiveness are bigger than your sin.

Leave behind the pigpen of rebellion and enjoy the eternal riches of his grace!

Now What?

Read the entire Prodigal Son parable in Luke 15:11-32.

Did You Know?

The Prodigal Son story was one of three parables in Luke 15 that Jesus told condemning hypocritical religious leaders and their disdain for his acceptance of “tax collectors and sinners.”