Prodigals

 Luke 15 gives us the Parables of the Lost, we read about the lost sheep, the coin, and the son.  It becomes clear God has a heart for the lost and so should we. 

1 time a relative told me her son wasn't a believer and said if he goes to hell it's his fault. He was 20, so he was and adult and was responsible for his own choices. 

I was quite sad over 2 things - the young man's lack of Salvation and his mother's attitude which was shallow and seriously nonchalant.  

I've prayed for him for years. He excelled in college, excels in work, and has a beautiful family. What he does not have is the greatest, most costly Gift ever given in the history of creation - Salvation. I continue to pray for him.

From Luke 15:

 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.  Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.  And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.  And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’  And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.  And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.  But the father said to his servants,‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.  And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.  And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,  but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.  But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’  And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.  It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

Lord God,

I ask You to ignite holy fire in us so that we fervently pray for the lost sheep, the Prodigals out there. Our desire is for them to come to themselves and realize like us, they have sinned against You, Lord God.

We ask You to open their spiritual ears and eyes to Your holy truth, not the truth as the world sees it. We pray loving evangelists cross their paths and share the Gospel with them. We pray for our family members: ____________________________________________________ our friends:  ______________________________________________          elected officials:  ________________________________________________        

Misc: ____________________________________________________

We pray the lost we named above who are spiritually dead become alive in Christ and who were lost are found in Jesus' holy Name. Amen