Kevin Bennie
Dec 19, 2023 10:00 AM
👇💥 FULL DEVO BELOW💥👇 If you've been following along with the Stewardship series, this is an absolutely critical one, don't miss this! 11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. Luke 15:11-24 He squandered all he had…but the father, God, ran to him when he returned. This is not the same as the wicked servant who hid his possessions (Matthew 25). He hid from all the way up to the moment God returned. No the prodigal son went back to his father, before it was too late. God is gracious and compassionate. We are not perfect stewards! Odds are you have squandered what God has given you at some point: using money on your selfish desires, your time for your own ends and one things that you shouldn't spend time doing, putting energy into things that don't build the kingdom of God. God knows all this and loves you still! He loves you so much that when you return to him, he comes running to meet you! Waste no time, return to the father. REFLECT Sit with the story of the prodigal son. Are there things that have been coming to mind as things you may have "squandered"? Turn your attention to the father in the story, who ran to his child when he returned, hugged and kissed him, overjoyed at his return. PRAY Invite God to speak to you as you "return" to him. Allow his love and grace to wash over you.