Advent Devotional

Home Again

11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his fa-

ther, `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 se-

vere 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 men 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 men.' 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

25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music

and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 `Your

brother has come,' he replied, `and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back

28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded

with him. 29 But he answered his father, `Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never

disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my

friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes

home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'

31 "`My son,' the father said, `you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32

But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he

DEVOTIONAL STORY

When we see the story of the prodigal son, we often forget the story behind the story. As we read

about in the Ten Commandments we are called to honor our father and mother. One of the ways to

dishonor parents in days gone by was to treat them as dead and claim the inheritance they would

leave. This is exactly what the prodigal son did. The penalty for such a claim was that the son would

have been stoned by the townsfolk upon his return to town.

It is the love of the father that kept watch for the son, such that when he saw the son, yet in the dis-

tance, he went running to gather him in, and reclaim him into the family, so that the son would not

be put to death. This was a true redemption, and it is the very love that God seeks to give to each of

us, that we might know love fully and completely, redeemed into the family and restored to the in-

heritance that we squandered without the guidance and surrounding of God’s powerful arms of love.

The main thing the Lord wants is to say: this is my son, daughter, child and this is the place that I

have prepared for them.

Home is where the heart is--have your heart in Heaven.

Home is Heaven, His creation-therefore all is Home.

PRAYER

Lord, when we were still waiting to find you, you were watching out for us. You ran to meet us on the

road to death. Thank you for opening your home and your life to us once again. May we never forget

such love, seeking to offer amazing love as this to many others in your name. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Where is your heart?

What makes something feel like home to you?

David Camphouse