Pacific Waves

Volume 2, Issue 2

Page 5

Bible Study by Juanita Simpson

inheritance now." It sounds as if he wished his father were dead. The son's selfishness and greed also resulted in lack of consideration for others. He was forcing his father to divide his possessions while still alive. The son's attitude was rooted in rebellion and it came out in insolence. He took everything he could get as though he would never be back, showing disregard and hatred for his father and brother. Then he left for a distant country. Why distant? He didn't want anyone checking on him. This is what we do to God. We take all His gifts to us and then get as far away from Him as we can!

What was the result of these wrong attitudes of the son? In Luke 15:13-16 we read the sad story of where this greed, selfishness and irresponsibility led the young man. He quickly wasted all the money that his father had worked so hard for all his life. He threw it away on parties, women and so-called friends. When the money was all gone a famine hit the land. Now the foolish young man was starving - for food, fellowship, comfort, love and security. His foolishness and wastefulness brought him to the pigpen. For a Jew to care for "unclean pigs" meant that he had reached the bottom. He even wanted to eat the pig food. All his so-called friends had deserted him. They didn't care whether he lived or died. They had only been using him to get what they wanted just as he had used his father to get what he wanted! We take God's blessings and waste them. We end up starving for the really good things of life - far away from our Heavenly Father - down in the pigpens of this world eating the rotten pig food there. That's our human condition!

What is the first step in true repentance? First the son came to his senses. Luke 15:17 Finally he realized where he was and how far he had fallen. Next he remembered the situation in his home. He didn't compare himself with his brother, but with the

servants, no doubt feeling that he would never again be accepted as a son. He knew that the servants were well taken care of because his father was a generous man, so he decided to return as a servant. This is an indication that his repentance was real. His decision was to go to his father, not to a place. Luke 15:18-19 He desired to renew the broken relationship. He was ready to humbly admit his faults, failures and sins. He realized that he had no right to expect forgiveness and acceptance. He was totally dependent on the mercy of his father. He could be turned away! The first step in our repentance is when we recognize what our real condition is. God gives us a longing to be with Him again. Then comes the struggle! Are we willing to humble ourselves before Him and beg for His forgiveness?

What is the second step in repentance? Repentance is not just feeling sorry, wishing we had never been caught, having nice thoughts about being different, or even deciding to go to the Father seeking forgiveness. Repentance is getting up and going! Luke 15:20a The young man followed his thoughts and words with action. Repentance is going an entirely different direction! The prodigal turned around and went back to his father, not just temporarily, but permanently. The people of Nineveh repented when Jonah preached to them.  Jonah 3:6-10 They had to turn from violence and robbing. "When God saw" they had put a stop to their evil ways, then He decided not to destroy them but to forgive them. It's not enough to just think it would be good to admit our sins and ask forgiveness. We have to actually face God with our true condition and beg for mercy. Then we live out our repentance the way the Ninevites did - by leaving our evil ways and bad friends. It takes the decision of our will to do God's will in our lives.

What was the father's response to his son's repentance? The prodigal's father was waiting and

saw him while he was still far away. Luke 15:20b He must have been looking down that road every day since his son left. Imagine the loving, longing heart of that father! The father ran to his son and kissed him. Older men in the Middle East don't run, especially to young people. It's amazing that the father recognized his son at all. He was ragged, dirty, smelly, skinny. But the father accepted him as he was. As he had planned, the son began his speech. Luke 15:21 It's good to hear his words of true repentance: "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son." He had planned to ask his father to allow him to be his servant, but he didn't have a chance to say it because his father interrupted, telling his servants to get the best robe, a ring, and sandals for his son. Luke 15:22-24 His father was demonstrating that his son was accepted back, not as a servant, but as his own precious, loved son - a member of the family. Then he told them to prepare a feast. Why did the father want to celebrate? Was it because his son had arrogantly and stupidly left home, breaking his father's heart and wasting his money? No! It was because he returned in repentance. The father described his son's condition: "He was dead and is now alive. He was lost and is now found,"
What is God's response to our repentance? The picture of the father running to his skinny, dirty son and kissing him is a beautiful picture of God. He is compassionate and merciful to those like the prodigal and the

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