Sunday Musings | The Prodigal Son

Are you familiar with the prodigal son? We find his story in Luke 15:11-23.

A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’

Matt Carter, author and pastor of a church in Austin, Texas, has a new book out sharing a deeper look at this age-old story. The Long Walk Home: Discovering the Fullness of Life in the Love of the Father is a very well-written and easy to read book. However, the author doesn't minimize sin and the lasting effects it has on our lives. Instead, he juxtaposes that with the unfailing love of our Heavenly Father.

Filled with personal stories (which I thoroughly enjoyed as I'm familiar with the Texas settings) as well as other Biblical examples, this is a thought-provoking book that will help you release any doubt you have about whether God can love you after all the things you've done that go against His will for your life as well as whether following God will cause you to miss out on the best life has to offer. [Spoiler Alert - God's love never fails & a life with Him is better than anything this life can provide.]

If you haven't take a good look at the story of the prodigal son in a while, or if you still have doubts about the God's love and questions about your future in His family because of your past, I highly recommend this book!

(Note: I am a B&H/LifeWay Blogger and received this book free in exchange for an honest review.)