This morning, we continue our series on “The Parables of Jesus.” We will seek to glean “Pearls from the Parables.”
Before we get to the parable, let’s look at a scripture we have been looking at all year. This is something I believe the Lord wants us to meditate on.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son: (Luke 15: 11-32 NLT)
11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons.
12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.
14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.
15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.
16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!
18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,
19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
20 “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.’
22 “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.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house,
26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on.
27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’
28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him,
29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.
30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’
31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours.
32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. We are all unique, and God treats us as such.
— I have mentioned a few times already how the father’s two sons in the parable were so different. This is how it is with us and God. We are all different, and God loves us the way He made us.
— God’s design is intentional; He made each of us distinct for a purpose.
— Our uniqueness is a testament to God’s creativity and His desire for diversity in His Kingdom.
— Each of us has a special role to play in God’s grand plan. Embrace it.
— Our distinct gifts, talents, and perspectives are tools God uses to bring about His divine purposes on earth.
— It’s not about competition but about collaboration in God’s Kingdom.
2. The dangers of comparison.
— Comparison is a trap that can lead to discontentment and a lack of gratitude for what God has given us.
— When you compare yourself to other people, one of two things can happen, and neither one is good. If you place yourself above the person you are comparing yourself to, it will lead to a heart full of pride and contempt. This can cause you to look down on others and devalue them because you don’t believe they are measuring up to your level. If you place others above yourself, then it can lead to low self-esteem and dissatisfaction with life.
— Comparison can cause you to either devalue others or devalue yourself.
— Comparison can also rob you of your joy and distract you from your God-given mission.
— When we focus on others’ journeys, we miss out on the beauty and lessons of our own.
3. The best thing to do is to embrace God’s love and grace for ourselves and as it relates to dealing with others.
— God’s love is unconditional, and His grace is sufficient for every area of our lives.
— When you embrace God’s love and grace, you will learn to be easier on yourself.
— If you are too critical of yourself, you will devalue your future because of the mistakes of your past.
— The Prodigal Son was willing to forfeit his status as a SON just because he made poor decisions.
— The love and grace of God will affirm to you that God is still with you despite your faults, flaws, and failures.
— No matter how many times we mess up, God’s love remains constant.
— His grace is a testament to His unfathomable love for us.
— Once you EMBRACE the love and grace of God for yourself, you are in a position to EXTEND that same love and grace towards others.
— Remember, grace isn’t about getting what we deserve; it’s about receiving what we don’t deserve. This perspective helps us extend grace to others more freely.
— Recipients of grace should be extenders of grace.
4. The father wanted unity in diversity.
— When the younger son asked for his inheritance, the father wound up giving the inheritance to both sons, even though the older son did not ask for it.
— When both boys received their money, the younger one took off, and the older one stayed.
— The younger one was influenced by the money and the older one was not.
— The younger one went to spend the money on wild living, while the older son just kept working every day (faithfully) for his father.
— When the younger son came home, and the father threw him a party, the older son did not want to celebrate because he was bitter over how his brother acted. He did not think his brother deserved a party.
— Notice how the father wanted both boys to be united, even though they were way different.
— The father wanted his sons to come together as one, even though they obviously had different tendencies.
— This is how it is with our Heavenly Father. He knows we are all different, but he still wants us to be united.
— God wants unity, not uniformity. He wants us to be unified, not uniform. Meaning that the father wanted the older son to reconcile with his brother, but he did not want him to change to be like his brother.
— In the Kingdom of God, we have all sorts of people with all sorts of backgrounds. God is not expecting us to be uniform. But He does desire that we be unified.
— When you walk with God and allow God to walk with you, you will experience unity in diversity. God will unite people who are significantly different and bring them together in ways that the world will not understand.
— I am a Dominican kid from Brooklyn. I have friends who are Black, White, Hispanic, and Asian. I have friends who are rich and poor. I have friends who attended Ivy League schools and others who are straight from the Ghetto. This is the beauty of the Kingdom of God. God’s Kingdom should show the world what unity in diversity looks like. If we are honest, this is an area where we need to do better. 11 am Sunday morning is still the most segregated hour in the United States. We can work together, but we cannot seem to worship together.
— Please do your part. Be open to God and open to the relationship He wants you to have.
— People don’t need to look like you or act like you to walk with you!
— The father wanted the older son to embrace the younger son, even though he had done many things wrong. This is what God will lead you to do as well.
— If we are honest, we may not have done what they did, but we have our own issues, so there is no need to throw stones. Let’s just walk together in unity while celebrating diversity!
5. We should prioritize reconciliation the way God does.
— Humans are complicated, and sometimes people get upset with others. God knows we don’t have to like all the things others do, but if we have a heart for unity and reconciliation, we will be able to experience the love of God, not just in our relationship with God, but in our relationship with others.
— Communication is key in mending broken relationships and fostering unity.
— Let love and understanding be the driving forces when addressing differences.
— The father was operating in love in the parable, and he wanted his boys to do the same.
— If the older son did not open his heart to the love of God, he was running the risk of being so bitter with his brother that the relationship could have been broken permanently. Thankfully, the father had a heart for love and reconciliation.
— The Holy Spirit will lead you to reconcile broken relationships. Now, sometimes, the other party may not be open to it, and if that happens, you have to give them time and space. But you just need to make sure that your heart is right towards God and towards others.
— Never allow the actions of others to cause you to grow a root of bitterness in your heart!
— Don’t keep good records of bad things. Be quick to forgive and be open to reconciliation.
I will close with the word of the Apostle Paul today. He said, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” (Romans 12:17-19 NIV).
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me! I boldly declare:
I am fearfully and wonderfully made!
I embrace the distinct role You have for me in Your grand design.
I reject the pitfalls of comparison, choosing instead to see my value and the value of others through Your eyes.
I am a recipient of Your boundless love and grace, and I will extend that same love and grace to others.
I celebrate the beauty of unity in diversity, recognizing that You desire for us to come together as one body, despite our differences.
I prioritize reconciliation, seeking to mend broken relationships and foster unity, just as You do.
I am committed to walking in love, understanding, and forgiveness, ensuring that my heart remains free from bitterness and resentment.
I am led by the Holy Spirit in all my interactions, ensuring that I reflect Your heart and Your desires in every situation.
I stand firm in the knowledge that You are a God of unity, love, and reconciliation, and I strive to be a reflection of that in this world.
Living with this mindset, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
