Thursday
Read Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
15
One day when many tax collectors and other outcasts came to listen to Jesus, 2the
Pharisees and the teachers of the Law started grumbling, “This man welcomes
outcasts and even eats with them!” 3So Jesus told them this parable:
11 Jesus went on to say, “There was
once a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to him, ‘Father,
give me my share of the property now.’ So the man divided his property between
his two sons. 13After a few days the younger son sold his part of
the property and left home with the money. He went to a country far away, where
he wasted his money in reckless living. 14He spent everything he
had. Then a severe famine spread over that country, and he was left without a
thing. 15So he went to work for one of the citizens of that country,
who sent him out to his farm to take care of the pigs. 16He wished
he could fill himself with the bean pods the pigs ate, but no one gave him
anything to eat. 17At last he came to his senses and said, ‘All my
father’s hired workers have more than they can eat, and here I am about to
starve! 18I will get up and go to my father and say, Father, I have
sinned against God and against you. 19I am no longer fit to be
called your son; treat me as one of your hired workers.’ 20So he got
up and started back to his father.
“He was still a long way from home when
his father saw him; his heart was filled with pity, and he ran, threw his arms
round his son, and kissed him. 21‘Father,’ the son said, ‘I have
sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.’ 22But
the father called his servants. ‘Hurry!’ he said. ‘Bring the best robe and put
it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. 23Then go
and get the prize calf and kill it, and let us celebrate with a feast! 24For
this son of mine was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has
been found.’ And so the feasting began.
25 “In the meantime the elder son
was out in the field. On his way back, when he came close to the house, he
heard the music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and
asked him, ‘What’s going on?’ 27‘Your brother has come back home,’
the servant answered, ‘and your father has killed the prize calf, because he
got him back safe and sound.’
28 “The elder brother was so angry
that he would not go into the house; so his father came out and begged him to
come in. 29But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have
worked for you like a slave, and I have never disobeyed your orders. What have
you given me? Not even a goat for me to have a feast with my friends! 30But
this son of yours wasted all your property on prostitutes, and when he comes
back home, you kill the prize calf for him!’ 31‘My son,’ the father
answered, ‘you are always here with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But
we had to celebrate and be happy, because your brother was dead, but now he is
alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.’ ”
Think
The parable of the prodigal son tells us a lot about God's grace. The returning son is welcomed into the family
without question - all he has to do is come home.
Pray
Remind me that I am your child - and the people around me; even the ones I
don't like. They are your children too.
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