DAILY DEVOTIONAL FROM PASTOR WESLEY February 23, 2023
Becoming a Prodigal
In a world that lures us to always want more, we can easily drift into a self-centered mindset.
And He said, ``A man had two sons. ``The younger of them said to his father, `Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' So he divided his wealth between them. ``And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. ``Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. ``So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. ``And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. ``But when he came to his senses, he said, `How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! `I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, ``Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men."' Luke 15:11-19
How did the Prodigal Son’s journey begin? Perhaps he wanted to leave behind the restrictions that come with living under a parent’s roof. Or maybe he wanted money to pursue life’s pleasures with friends. Whatever the case, the prodigal son’s desire emboldened him to prematurely ask for his inheritance and then to abandon home and the things he’d been taught.
A Christian who has turned away from God might follow a similar path. First, we begin with a craving for something other than what we have. The longer we allow the idea to linger, the stronger our desire is to have it—and we eventually find ways to justify what we want. Then, based on that faulty reasoning, we move toward our own self-centered goals. Like the wayward son, we may enjoy the pleasures of the world for a time, but ultimately, we will find ourselves lacking certain essentials: unconditional love, security, and a meaningful purpose for living.
We should understand the reality of our situation: You and I are up against an active Enemy, a world that doesn’t value God, and our own tendency to prefer pleasure over obedience. If we want to avoid self-deception, we must make Scripture the basis for our thought life and choices (Romans 12:2).
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