Their Field of Pigs

The parable of the prodigal son has had special meaning to our family
over the last many years. We've witnessed nearly every aspect of
this parable work itself out through the life of our daughter, from
the pain of her rebellion to the joy of her return. I've also seen
this as the most common problem faced by parents all over the
world. No matter what country or culture, parents agonize over the
one who has gone astray.

In this parable, we see a rebellious young man demanding what he felt
was rightfully his: "Father, give me my share of the estate" (Luke
15:12). This disrespectful attitude grew until the son no longer
desired to live under his father's roof. He "got together all he
had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in
wild living" (Luke 15:13).

The reason this is such a universally common issue is that we are all
born with the same sinful nature - a nature which holds us in tight
control unless we are utterly transformed by the Spirit of God
through faith in Jesus; "Those who live according to the sinful
nature have their minds set on what that nature desires" (Romans
8:5). At the heart of the sinful nature is a pride which continually
demands what we believe we deserve - this is the root of all sin!

The prodigal son continued to live according to his sinful nature
until he found himself in a field of pigs; "he longed to fill his
stomach with the pods {they} were eating" (Luke 15:16). But God used
this terrible situation to soften the heart of the prodigal son and
bring him to a state of submitted repentance.

Luke 15:17-18
"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired
men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set
out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned
against heaven and against you.'"

Before the son left home, I'm sure the father tried to provide wise
counsel about the true priorities in life. I'm sure the father
desperately tried every possible method of guiding the son along the
straight and narrow path. I'm also pretty sure the father simply
held his son close and wept. Unfortunately, the lessons the son
needed to learn could only be taught through pigs.

There is nothing more painful than to watch someone you love walk
down a path of obvious pain - nothing rips the heart like watching
your child walk away from God and engage in various forms of "wild
living." But it helps to remember that God loves the prodigal more
than we can hope or imagine. He desires to live with them in an
eternally restored relationship. Our Heavenly Father will never miss
an opportunity to teach the prodigal and draw them near - even as
they may drift and sink - even as they may wallow in their field of pigs.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries

*****************************************************
Archive of previous devotions : http://www.gdwm.org/archive07.htm

Subscribe/Unsubscribe by email to closerwalk@gdwm.org
Subscribe via web: http://www.gdwm.org/subscribe.htm

Feedback and Prayer: http://gdwmboard.org/6/ubb.x
Send Invitation: http://www.gdwm.org/invite.htm
Verses and Psalms: http://www.gdwm.org/verses
Spanish Devotions: http://www.gdwm.org/spanish

Mail from GDWM is only sent to those who subscribe (free of cost) or
by invitation from friends. Please unsubscribe if these messages are
no longer desired. We absolutely do not support unsolicited E-mail.

Scripture references: The Holy Bible: New International Version.
Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.

God's Daily Word Ministries
P.O. Box 190
Lorena, TX 76655
*****************************************************