The Prodigal Son by Matt CarterSample

Day 6: The Speech In our time walking with the prodigal, we’ve seen the young man demand his inheritance, and head for the promise of a better life in a far off country. We’ve heard how he wasted all his father’s fortune and ended up wishing he ate as well as the pigs he tended to. Most recently, we saw the prodigal realize he made a big mistake and resolved to head back home to his father. Now the prodigal is wrestling over what to say to his father when he arrives back home. Up until this point in the parable, we’ve only learned about the prodigal through what he does. These verses mark a shift in the story. As the son rehearses what he will say when he faces his father, we’re granted access into his heart. The first line is a blueprint for biblical repentance. Verse 18 shows us that true repentance requires an admission of guilt to both God and others. The prodigal doesn’t minimize or excuse his wrongdoing. The son says: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you." He offers no deflection of his failure. Instead, he comes out and owns his sin against God and his father. True repentance involves a vertical aspect—admitting fault to God—and a horizontal aspect—admitting fault to others harmed. The prodigal’s speech veered off the road when he said, “I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” We can never sin so much that God won’t accept us. Nothing can ever separate us from the love of God in Jesus. In fact, Psalm 103 tells us that Jesus has removed our sin as far from us as the east is from the west. Remember, even in your sin and disobedience, you will always be a son and daughter of God. You will always have a place in His kingdom and a seat at His table. In fact, when you wander, He’s actually waiting to welcome you home. Consider this question: What causes you to forget that you belong to God? How can you meditate on the truth that God is always for you today?