I’ve written three posts about the parable of the prodigal son and today’s is the final one. (Here are the links to the first, second, and third installments in the series.)
Through the story of a rebellious son who repents and returns home to find a welcoming father, Jesus highlights the grace of God. The Lord will receive you, too, if you humble yourself and come back to Him. You can discover how God celebrates the redemption of those whom He loves. And if you worry about the Lord’s disposition toward you, then allow Christ’s words ease your concerns.
So don’t limit grace. If your life resembles the prodigal, recognize that the Father wants you back.
“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” – Luke 15:20
If you identify with the older brother, stop depriving yourself of God’s blessings. Don’t blame the Lord for what you lack.
“But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends . . . 31‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.’” – Luke 15:29, 31
The father demonstrated grace to the prodigal by throwing him a party. He demonstrated grace to the elder son by reminding him that he could have had a party whenever he wanted to. If the son never enjoyed one, it’s because he never asked.
The Bible reinforces this point.
“You do not have because you do not ask.” – James 4:2
“Ask and it will be given to you.” – Matthew 7:7
“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” – John 15:7
If you want to enjoy all that God has, then talk to Him. If you don’t ask, you won’t get.
There’s power in asking. That’s what I stressed in last week’s blog post.
But it’s not the full picture.
Because the prodigal son had a party thrown for him and he didn’t ask for one. He didn’t beg to be restored to the family. All he wanted was to be hired as one of the caretakers of the estate. Instead, the father honored him with a feast.
So you don’t have to ask in order to receive. The younger brother didn’t; why should the older brother? Why should you?
Prayer has no guarantee. You may not get what you asked for.
“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” – James 4:3
What’s the solution here? Ask or don’t bother?
Asking is important, but grace is greater. It has priority.
“I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. To a nation that did not call on My name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’” – Isaiah 65:1
God meets people who had no interest in Him. They didn’t pray because they didn’t care. But the Lord cared about them. He cares about you. And that love motivates Him to take the first step.
“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” – Isaiah 65:24
Those who cry out to God learn later on that He already answered them. Your prayers mean much to the Lord; so much that He replies before you get the words out.
God even responds when you can’t get any words out.
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” – Romans 8:26-27
If you’re a Christian, you’re not alone. Jesus is with you. And you don’t pray alone; the Holy Spirit resides within you, expressing the deepest issues of your heart to the Father.
God hears those prayers, He understands, and He acts. In amazing ways.
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 21to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” – Ephesians 3:20-21
God does more than you ask. The prodigal wanted a job; the father gave him a banquet.
What are you asking God for? Do you know He can exceed it? Whatever you’re asking for, whatever you need, His grace is greater!
