This morning I opened my bible to the story of the prodigal son as told by Jesus to his disciples in Luke 15:21 (chapter 15, verses 21-24). The parable actually starts in verse 11. (King James Version)

21- “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22- “But the father said to his servants,  ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23-‘And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24-‘for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. 

In the previous verses, Jesus tells us how this son asked his father for his share of the family property. The father honored his wish and gave each of his two sons their share. This younger son then sold his property for money and went far out and lived it up and wasted all his money by living recklessly. I’m lead to believe he gave some to the wrong people, he bought unnecessary things (only God knows what)because he saw others with it. He probably gambled some away, over ate, and over drank. Perhaps he put himself in a situation where some of his money and possessions were stolen. Regardless of what he did with it, he had nothing to show for the money he left home with. He ended up landing a job taking care of pigs. Now, nothing is wrong with making an honest living and farming. However, this young man was hungry and wanted to eat the bean pods the pigs were eating. So, your boy came to his senses and says to himself, (paraphrased) “My father has hired help who is eating better than me and they have food left over! I am getting out of here and going back home where I can live better than this and get myself some food because I am starving out here with these pigs!” So he did like I have done a few times! He took his grown buttocks back to his father’s house. When his dad saw him in the distance, his dad then ran to him with opened arms and kissed him! So this is where I began reading the scripture this morning.

So the young man goes home and tells his father that he did some terrible things out there in the streets of that far away place. He was ashamed, guilty and filthy, broke down and poor. However, the father was a good, forgiving father. He was like, (paraphrased) “My boy has come home! He is not dead! He is alive! He was out there in the world getting into some ungodly, unthinkable things. Now he has given up those horrible things and has come back home where he belongs!” Then his father threw him a big, merry party (feast) with music and dancing. (verse 25)

You see friends, Jesus gave us that parable to let us know that even though we may get drawn out into the world and sin against Him, we are forgiven. We are welcomed back into our Father’s opened arms and back into his Kingdom. He welcomes us back with the best robe, a ring and sandals (Gifts Honey). We can all then rejoice, sing, dance and be merry! Our great FORGIVING FATHER waits for us to choose to come back to him. We can and should forget about our old sinful pasts and move on in the Grace of God’s Favor.

As a matter of fact, I am going out to celebrate today! My Heavenly Father has taken me back. He forgave me for the sins I committed against Heaven and in His sight. I repented (turned away from sin and won’t return). Now I am forgiven. I forget those things which are behind me and now I press forward towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus! Philippians3:14 I won’t look back. I am free! I am free to sing, dance and be merry! Whoopee! I AM FREE!! Celebrate, Celebrate, Celebrate (While doing the cabbage patch)! Note to the younger folks: Google Cabbage Patch dance.