Letting Go (Part 3 Of 4)

In Luke 15:20 says, the Father ran toward the son and fell on his neck and kissed him; kissed as a token of his love and endearment; a sign of reconciliation and friendship; expressive of the strength of his affection to him. I believe they both wept and embraced each other. In order for the son to weep he had to let go of some things. Such as pride, resentment, rebellion, and stubbornness. These things may have been dealt with in the pigpen, at the lowest point in his life. However, the father’s forgiveness toward his son, and the son forgiving himself was dealt with in the loving embrace of his father.

Remember the prodigal son left home for a reason, whether he had a good reason or not, he felt he did. Whether he felt unloved, misunderstood, or unappreciated, he left with the intention of not returning. He felled into immorality and hardship. His so call friends were not there, when he needed them, they all abandoned him. Unable to provide for himself, stripped of any dignity or self-reliance he remembered his father.

In order to be set free from the pain, and torment you must let go of certain things. There’s an exchange that must take place. You must let go of unforgiveness, bitterness, and resentment. Are you willing to be whole in your body and your soul? If so then you must be willing to let go of the betrayal, rejection, let go of the verbal & physical abuse done to you. You must let go of self-condemnation, and guilt. You must forgive others and you must forgive yourself.  

Robe
Luke 15:22 says "Bring forth the best robe and put it on him."  In having the best robe placed on him, the Father was telling the prodigal as well as all observers that his position as son was being restored. There was no proving his faithfulness or sonship neither was there any punishment or demotion. He had learned a valuable lesson through the pain and hardship he had endured. It was an immediate demonstration of complete approval, love and mercy as well as protection - major benefits of being a son.

In addition, everyone was witnessing the Father's transfer of the prime inheritance (birthright) from the eldest son to the youngest son.

Joseph’s coat of many colors hinted to his brothers that Joseph would receive the birthright instead of the eldest son, Ruben. The garment was of many colors, not pieces, marking it as a priestly and royal robe. This robe similar to the prodigal son’s robe was intended as a mark of honor and rank, worn only by a chief and heir (Gen. 37:3).

Jesus had a woven robe, one piece not pieced together, that the Romans cast lot over. Jesus being the first-born, and Joseph being deceased, would have entitled him to the birthright, and robe according to Jewish tradition. This robe was similar to what the high priest wore.
(John 19:23-24)

Ring
In Luke 15:22 the father demanded the servant to put a ring on his hand. Once again we see this as the father's token of favor, and son ship to the prodigal.
Long ago, presenting a ring to someone was a sign of great affection and also a symbol of being placed in an office of authority; among the rich it was a sign of wealth and dignity.

Pharaoh removed his signet ring and put it on Joseph's hand when installing him into office in Egypt (Genesis 41:42).

“In the book of Esther the King took off his ring, the royal signet by which the decrees of government were signed, and gave it to Mordecai (Esther 8:2). The ring showed Pharaoh's affection for Joseph and the King's affection for Mordecai.  This transferred to them all power and authority necessary for the promotions they received, one as Governor and the other as Prime Minister.”
The ring placed on the hand of the Prodigal was evidenced of the great affection the Father had toward him. It also announced, once again, the transfer of inheritance, which would ordinarily have gone to the first-born.

Shoes
Luke 15:22 "Put shoes on his feet" In ancient biblical times only servants and slaves went barefoot. Therefore, when the Father ordered shoes to be brought out and put on the Prodigal's feet he said for the third and final time that the Prodigal was not to be treated as a servant, but as a son with all entitlements.

Moses and Joshua were asked to remove their sandals because the ground they were standing on was holy ground (Exodus 2:5 & Joshua 5:15). The shoes are a form of entitlement and covering, it had to be removed in the presence of God. Why? They were not entitled to stand before God on their own merits. It is only by His grace and mercy that Moses and Joshua could come into God’s presence. They were told to take off their shoes, not anything else. The shoes were not needed before God because He alone is theirs and our covering. He alone is the reason we can come into His presence.

All that the prodigal son received was given to him; he didn’t earn or deserve it. Yet, everyone was witnessing the Father's transfer of the prime inheritance (birthright) from the eldest son to the youngest son. But, what about the eldest son who didn’t leave home or transgress?...To be continued

Letting Go (Part Two)

Read Luke 15:11-19

Luke 15:17-18 says, “And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee.”

How does one get set free from sin? A person who received Jesus Christ as their Savior should know the answer. The prodigal son already knew the way home, back to the Father. He did three key things:

Verse 17 He came to himself (senses)
Verse 18 I have sinned (acknowledgement)
Verse 20 He arose (Repented)

First he came to his senses. He recognized that he had put himself in this situation. He didn’t blame his so call friends who abandoned him, nor his upbringing, nor his father (God), or brother (or sister in the Lord). He blamed himself. The prodigal son didn’t fall into self-piety. He recognized his condition and acknowledged that he had sinned against heaven and his Father. The prodigal son then arose, and came toward his Father.

We can feel sorry for ours sins, and we can ask for forgiveness. However, true repentance is turning away from sin. The bible says we are to flee temptation.

Why didn’t his father rescue him? The same reason our Heavenly Father doesn’t rescue us. Jesus Christ already paid the price on Calvary for our sins. He already rescued us. It’s up to us to accept it, and walk in that finished work, and not grab a hold of what Christ has delivered us from.

God loves the sinners, but He hates sin. Sin separates us from God. God’s love is not an excuse to sin, but a reason not to.

The consequences of Sin did not bring the prodigal son to hopelessness, and despair, but it brought him to His knees, it brought him to conviction and repentance. Remembering his father’s goodness and mercy drove him home.

I am reminded of the story of the drowning man. The drowning man’s friend, who couldn’t swim either, stood helplessly on the shoreline. He watched his friend frantically splashing his arms in the water yelling, “help” and then disappear and reappear in the water. A lifeguard near by watched, but did nothing. The friend asked if the lifeguard was going to save his drowning friend. The lifeguard continue to watch as the man went under the water a second time and reappear. The drowning man unable to scream any more took one last breath and under the water a third and final time he went. The lifeguard then jumped into the water and swam to where the victim was last seen. He then dive under the water and quickly emerged with the motionless victim. Once on shore the victim began coughing. His friend now highly agitated, asked the lifeguard why he didn’t rescue him when he first started to drown? The lifeguard said, “If I had tried to save him while he was drowning he would have frantically grabbed a hold of me and pulled us both under. I had to wait until he had no fight left in him, before I could truly rescue him.”

Our Heavenly Father waits until there is no fight left in us, until we have exhausted every means of self-deliverance. Only then when we cry out to Him; He reaches down and save us from ourselves.

The very things the son was seeking for in that country or world, he had at home; Liberty, Joy, Acceptance, Love, Purpose, Fulfillment, Wealth…etc.

Verse 20 says that his Father saw him from a distance. His father (Heavenly Father) saw him too; he saw him when in the far country, spending his substance with harlots, and in riotous living; he saw him when among the swine and husks. He saw us when we were in sin and rebellion. He saw us and he loved us, but He could not deliver us until we repented and turned toward Him.

The Father saw his son when he came to himself, he saw him in his progress towards him, and looked upon him with an eye of love, pity, and compassion, and ran to his son. Would our Heavenly Father do any less for you? No. Just because you don’t see Him, it doesn’t mean He doesn’t see you. Just because you don’t feel His presence it doesn’t me He doesn’t feel your pain and sorrow. If you would come to your senses, arise and draw near to Him, He will draw near to you.  He would run toward you and like the prodigal son, He would embrace you, and receive you with unconditional love…to be continued