“So he returned home to his father. And 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. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.
Luke 15:20-21, NLT
The Parable of the Prodigal Son has typically been taught as a ‘once upon a time’ event in the life of one wayward youth. We understand it to be such. The prodigal returns to his Father, case closed. It is a remarkable story that resonates to every broken believer.
But what if I told you that this parable is present tense. That we are continuously wandering, spending our inheritance and living off the wealth of our Father. We feel bad about this, we repent and return, only to embark on another foray into sin of our own choosing. It happens all the time.
My point is this. We seem to be always the prodigal. We never seem to outgrow this. We are constantly coming to our senses, and returning home. We seem to never get the point that our personal sin as eternal consequences. We live like there is no tomorrow, except we have to sober up and realize we have wandered far from our home.
The story of the prodigal is written to us who have repeatedly (that means very often) find themselves a good distance from where we should be. We find ourselves feeding the pigs again. We abhor our choices, and wonder again if our Father will take us back just one more time. Reason says ‘No!,’ but faith says ‘Yes!’
God’s love for us is greater than all our evil wanderings. It extends to the ups and downs of our vacillating discipleship. He sees it all and fully accepts us as His returning son. We will never tire out His constant love. We can feel ashamed of our recent behavior, but that changes nothing. We belong to Him, even if we feel wretched.
There are belivers who are overwhelmed by their sense of sin. Some of this is inflated by the devil. And yet they feel estranged from the Church. They know what they’ve done, and they can find no excuse for their actions. They’ve wandered again (for the 100th time).
The Father’s love is not subject to your obedience.
Grace is not some meager thing doled out in some stingy manner. It is given outrageously to each son or daughter without limits. Rascals are included. God is not a miser.
“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
Luke 15:22-24
‘One, and your done’ doesn’t apply to your heavenly Father. His love for you can’t be reduced to this level. Pick yourself up, leave the pigs, and come home again.
Broken Believers 
Thank you for these truths and reminders Pastor Bryon
Psalm 103:13-15 Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.…
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Brother Bryan, you site speaks to my soul. I have been plague with Anxiety, Panic Attacks and no the new disgnosis of Bipolar. I have had Anxiety from a very young age. The panic attacks didn’t start until around age 24. It would come and go but when it was there I would feel like I was going to die. When I started going to church several years ago I would cry over my past which was very bad. But I never felt forgiven and everytimevi did sin after that I always felt that God was done with me. I also always felt like a tare among all the other people that were wheat. I left church for a while and when I went back those old feelings creep back in and I ended up leaving again. Reading you post makes me glad that I am not the only cracked vessel. Thanks again for you posts. I tried the link to read your story but it didn’t work. If you don’t mind will you share your story with me. You can send it to my email. And I will share my story with you.
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Ive failed Christ so much…
Am I really sick? Is it inherited generational curses? Demons? Or my bad sin choices that created this illness. I seek and search and pray and beg and all doors are closed. Except one that I feel I will fail at, Teen Challenge. When I was at another Christian rehab, they said my sin caused my mental illness. That hurt, but that could be true! This rehab coulda helped me, but the marathon was too hard. I had no place to cry alone w Jesus.
I hope He does let us come home 100x, cuz im always at a bar. Cursing, drinking, …when every FIBER of my being wants out. But drugs call to me, ” youll feel better if you snort me, i make you forget all that pain, all that loss. God won’t care. He forgives.”I need freedom and don’t have the $ or endurance for a year long program. I feel SOOOOOO lost. If anyone can help, im dual diagnosis in Michigan. Near Detroit. Im so lost!!!! Great site btw.
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Amen Brother.
We are complete in Him.
9 “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. ”
(Col 2:9-10 NKJV)
Jesus completes us. Makes us whole.
Happy Thanksgiving,
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