Thursday, Luke 15

The younger son took his share of his inheritance and “wasted all his money on wild living” . . . he threw away every penny! Wild living is satisfying the flesh to the max. We think wild parties and prostitution, but it is when we totally leave God out.

Then a famine hit and he began to starve. Self survival kicked in . . . party time was over . . . and he found a job . . . feeding pigs! What kind of job is that for a son from a prominent, Jewish family? Pigs were “unclean” . . . unfit by law to be eaten, let alone touched. Even what the pigs were eating looked good to eat! Now that is HUNGRY! Have you ever fed pigs “slop” or even seen what “slop” looks like? I have. Even though it’s food scraps, it’s not a pretty sight!

This son had not a penny to his name and took a job that was degrading and humiliating. “No one gave him anything.” (vs. 16) He had to come to his senses, making the right choice to return to his father. I’m not advocating that we don’t help people in need. But when we do help those in need, we need to point them to God as their answer, as their source. Only God can fix us.

Can you picture God going to the window every day looking for us . . . checking the mail box to see if we have sent Him a postcard letting Him know where we are? God knows where we are and at what point in our situation we will turn to Him. He waits patiently for us to come to our senses . . . giving us opportunities to respond to Him. God loves us, but He will not force us to come to him. God’s not waiting to make us slop hogs. No, He is like the younger son’s father . . . waiting to celebrate our turning/returning to Him!