Monday Devo
Scripture:
Luke 15:11-19
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.”
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.”
Commentary:
15:12 give me … property … coming to me. The younger son does not want to wait for his father’s death to receive his inheritance. He was probably a teenager, since he was unmarried. His share would have been half of what the older brother would receive, or one-third of the estate (cf. Deut. 21:17). He divided indicates that the father responded to his younger son’s request and allowed him to make his own choice to go his own way.
15:13 Gathered all indicates that the son converted into cash all of his inheritance, which may have included land or cattle, which he then foolishly squandered … in reckless living.
15:15 In desperation the son hired himself out to a Gentile to feed pigs (unclean animals; Lev. 11:7; Deut. 14:8) that would have been repugnant to him.
15:16 no one gave him anything. His worldly friends all deserted him.
15:17–18 When the son came to himself he realized that his sin was not only against his earthly father but in the deepest sense against heaven, that is, against God himself.
15:13 Gathered all indicates that the son converted into cash all of his inheritance, which may have included land or cattle, which he then foolishly squandered … in reckless living.
15:15 In desperation the son hired himself out to a Gentile to feed pigs (unclean animals; Lev. 11:7; Deut. 14:8) that would have been repugnant to him.
15:16 no one gave him anything. His worldly friends all deserted him.
15:17–18 When the son came to himself he realized that his sin was not only against his earthly father but in the deepest sense against heaven, that is, against God himself.
Questions:
- We've all heard the story of the prodigal son before. He runs off, squanders his inheritance and ends up with nothing. Eventually, after being thoroughly humbled, he decides to return to his father. Scripture says he "came to his senses." He chooses to come back fully expecting to have to be his father's slave in order to repay the debt he owed. He admitted he had disgraced himself, sinned against God, brought shame on his father's house and didn't deserve to be called his son anymore. This is an obvious parallel to a sinner repenting and turning to God. Talk about the time you came you your senses, humbled yourself and returned to your Father. What is your prodigal story?
- It is imperative that we, as Christ-followers, remember the squalor from which we came. Without the saving power and grace of our heavenly Father, we were destined for not only a life without him, but an eternity separated from him. Salvation isn't just about making your life better. Salvation is literally just that... saving your life. What kind of posture, attitude or emotion does this sobering realization bring about in your life? How different might your life and choices be if you daily lived with this in mind?
Pray:
- That you would never forget your prodigal story.
- That you would live with the Gospel in mind.
City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
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