Luke 15:
11 Jesus went on to say,
"There was once a man who had two sons.
12 The younger one said to him,
'Father, give me my share of the property now.'
So the man divided his property between his two sons. . . . .
20 So he got up and started back to his father.
19 I am no longer fit to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired workers." '
20 So he got up and started back to his father.
"He was still a long way from home when his father saw him; his heart was filled with compassion, and he ran, threw his arms around his son, and kissed him.
21 'Father,' the son said, 'I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.'
22 But the father called to his servants.
'Hurry!' he said. 'Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet.
23 Then go and get the prize calf and kill it, and let us celebrate with a feast!
24 For this son of mine was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.' And so the feasting began.     (Good News Bible)

So far in this study, we have been considering only the young man and his experience.
Today we want to look at his father.

The story told by the Lord Jesus seems to begin with the last scene of an ongoing discussion between the father and his younger son.
The sense is that this argument of how much control the young man has over his own destiny, has been going on for the last several years.

The father has been trying to convince his son that the young man isn't yet ready to handle his inheritance, because the young man doesn't have any settled purpose for his life and for his wealth.
The young man has been replying that the father is simply trying to keep him back and box him in.
At the beginning of this account the young man is telling his father forcefully that the only way to settle this matter is for them to separate and for him to have his inheritance NOW.

The father has been looking down the road, and seeing that the pig pen has been calling his son.
He has been trying to persuade the young man to look at life realistically and make some purposeful decisions concerning his future and his wealth.
When the story begins, the father is empty of words and arguments. He sees that the young man is stuck in his futile thoughts: the young man cannot be reasoned with. Therefore, the only course is to allow the young man to experience the pig pen.

The father, in his foresight, sees that this is going to be a very expensive lesson and this course of action will cause his son to lose his whole inheritance.
But the father decides that he prefers to let his wealth go and possibly save his son in the end, than to continue arguing with an unreasonable young person.

So they separate.
The father has stopped talking and has resorted to prayer only. He has placed the young man in God's hands and sent him out to meet the pig pen.

Prayer:
Loving Father in heaven,
thank You that Your heart yearns over us in the same way that this father's heart yearned over his unreasonable son.
Today I run to You and I ask that You restore reason in every place where I am at present unreasonable.
Thank You that in Your purpose I find my way in life and I am alive!
Hallelujah for Your salvation, Lord Jesus Christ,
Amen.

See you tomorrow, God willing,
so we can continue knowing the Lord together!
Meanwhile, have a great day walking with the Lord!