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…. New. New. New. Testament. Testament. Testament. People. People. People. Character Studies Of “Ordinary Folks”. Prodigal’s Father (Lk 15:11-32). His Love Was Tough vv. 12-16 He let his younger son go despite the mistakes & certain failure to come
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New New New Testament Testament Testament People People People Character Studies Of “Ordinary Folks”
Prodigal’s Father (Lk 15:11-32) His Love Was Tough vv. 12-16 • He let his younger son go despite the mistakes & certain failure to come • A love not easy for a parent to give, but necessary at times
Prodigal’s Father (Lk 15:11-32) His Love Was Tough vv. 12-16 • The same kind of love God has shown toward us Rom 1:24, 26, 28 • We have “free will”…God lets us choose even when He knows we have chosen badly
Prodigal’s Father (Lk 15:11-32) His Love Was Forgiving vv. 20-24 • His response was not “typical” • “I told you so!!” • A lecture about irresponsibility • Comments about his pathetic appearance
Prodigal’s Father (Lk 15:11-32) His Love Was Forgiving vv. 20-24 • His response was not “typical” • Some “deal” to work off what he squandered • A “probationary period” • He wouldn’t even hear his son’s prepared speech vv. 21-22
Prodigal’s Father (Lk 15:11-32) His Love Was Forgiving vv. 20-24 • His son’s return did not “surprise” him • He was looking for him, anticipating his eventual return v. 20 • This implies he was also ready to forgive
Prodigal’s Father (Lk 15:11-32) His Love Was Forgiving vv. 20-24 • The kind of love penitent sinners need • God shows this love Heb 8:12 • Some want “prodigals” who finally come home kept on a “probationary leash”
Prodigal’s Father (Lk 15:11-32) His Love Was Forgiving vv. 20-24 • Firm “tough love” must co-exist with receptive “forgiving love” 1 Cor 5:5 2 Cor 2:6-8 • God forgives & forgets…so must we Eph 4:32
Prodigal’s Father (Lk 15:11-32) His Love Understood vv. 25-32 • The older son who stayed home did not see the “bigger picture” • Why the “party?” • Why not scorn & rebuke?
Prodigal’s Father (Lk 15:11-32) His Love Understood vv. 25-32 • The older son who stayed home did not see the “bigger picture” • He only saw his own “worth” at the expense of his brother’s failures
Prodigal’s Father (Lk 15:11-32) His Love Understood vv. 25-32 • The older son who stayed home did not see the “bigger picture” • He rejected his brother “This son of yours”…not “my brother”
Prodigal’s Father (Lk 15:11-32) His Love Understood vv. 25-32 • The father saw the “bigger picture” • He recognized his older son’s traits v. 31 • But he also recognized the value of the lost son’s return
Prodigal’s Father (Lk 15:11-32) His Love Understood vv. 25-32 • We need to see this “bigger picture” • What if we always compare ourselves to those who have departed? • What if we smugly say “I’ve never done what he/she did!”?
Prodigal’s Father (Lk 15:11-32) His Love Understood vv. 25-32 • We need to see this “bigger picture” • What if we refuse to fully welcome back those who wandered off into sin? • If “guilty,” we are as much a “prodigal” as those who left…just like the older son
Prodigal’s Father (Lk 15:11-32) His Love Understood vv. 25-32 • We need to see this “bigger picture” • None of us are not what we think we are by our own doing • All we have is because of our Father who gives it v. 31 cp. Jas 1:5
Prodigal’s Father (Lk 15:11-32) Some Closing Thoughts… • This parable reveals God’s true heart • “Tough love” re: sin, us being head-strong • “Forgiving love” when we “come to ourselves” • “Understanding love” when others come home
Prodigal’s Father (Lk 15:11-32) Some Closing Thoughts… • The Father welcomes home again His lost children • Are we there with Him to greet them?