When God Says …
“And he said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.” (Luke 15:11-12 KJV).
These are the opening passages of our Lord’s teaching using the famous 'Parable of the Prodigal Son’, which we’ll reflect deeply these several days. We are to ingest these words by the teaching of the Holy Spirit for us get a hold of the Lord’s intent to apply it in our daily walk. We see in these verses a man having two sons. Here, we watch the younger demanding his share of the inheritance early, effectively wishing his father dead against the norms of honoring one’s parents of taking the privilege to inherit only after they pass on. Inheritance is not a right. It’s a privilege that rests on the one giving who and when to pass on. This act represents humanity's rebellion against God. Yet, the father’s compliance shows God respecting man’s free will in the confines of His extravagant love.
In this analogy, the father represents God, the younger son represents the tax collectors and all of us who were once sinners. The older son represents the religious Pharisees (who were grumbling about the Lord’s association with sinners). By asking for his share of the estate before the father's death, the son is asking for the money, not the honor of legacy. In that culture, this was a massive disrespect and insult, equivalent to saying "I wish you were dead".
The father grants the request, highlighting God’s willingness to allow us to make our own choices and deal with the consequences. This story, set in context of the lost sheep and the lost coin, shows that God is set to restore those who fall, regardless of their sins, and rejoices in their anticipated return to His provision of grace. The focus is on the father's (God's) love and compassion, rather than just the son's rebellion - a choice of free will.
God is righteous and just. He can’t take back the Free Will He’s given in the beginning when He commanded Adam, as it is written: “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”” (Genesis 2:16-17 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC.
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
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