13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

 17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’

 20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son'

 22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’

 28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’

 31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!
 
This is a beloved parable a story that most of us are at the very least acquainted with it.  I would like to share with you something God showed me about this passage of Scripture that I believe is a microcosm of dynamics of the local church and Christian circles.  This is the truth that I want to bring out:  "God opposes the proud by gives grace to the humble."  This truth is clearly seen in "The Parable of the Prodigal Son." 

Grace was given to the Prodigal son because of his humility.  The prodigal son showed remorse for his sin.  You can see in his thinking and in his confession to his father that he regretted and was genuinely sorry for what he had done.   You can see the progression of his brokenness.  He realized his sin, he recognized who he had sinned against, and he requested forgiveness.  Here is a question for you:  When you sin against God, does it break your heart?  Are you convicted without anyone having to tell you that are have sinned?  Does it bother you that you fall short?  God tells us in the book of Psalms that a "broken and contrite heart God will not despise."  The prodigal son demonstrated his humility by displaying a remorseful attitude before his father. 

We can also see that the father gave his wayward son grace because of his repentant attitude.  The scripture tells us that "he arose and went to his father."  it is a picture of doing a 180% about face.  The prodigal son had to turn his back on his wickedness, and all the life that had brought him to where he was and return to his father.  The Greek word for "repentance is metanoia" which means to change one's mind."  You can see the change in the prodigal's thinking that started with father, "give me what you owe me, to at least my father's servants have it better than this."  You can see that he acknowledged his sin to his father.  He said to the father, "I have sinned against you and heaven."  As he changed his thinking, he was changing directions as well.  Instead of running away from the father we can see him returning to the father.  That is repentance!  What about  you?  Have you wandered from the Father? Have you found yourself in a far country?  Have your so called friends forsaken you?  Are you so low that you realize that even on the worst days of following Jesus it was much better than where you are now?   If so, then you are need of repentance.  Turn your back on what brought to this low point in your life and start walking towards the Father.  In this story we see one of the most beautiful and touching pictures in all of the Bible.   The story says, that when the prodigal was still a long way off the Father saw him and started running to him.  How beautiful is that?  The book of James tells us that if we will draw nigh to God He will draw nigh to us. So, start walking to the Father and he will run to you too and fall on you and kiss your neck!  God loves you and is waiting for you to return to Him!  The Prodigal demonstrated his repentance by coming to the father seeking forgiveness.  

Finally, we see the prodigal's humble heart in action as he says to his father, "I have sinned against you...and I am not worthy to be called your son, please take me on as a hired servant."  We don't see the prodigal being presumptuous as he once was!  He is no longer demanding, but now he comes before his father broken and humble and reverent. The prodigal son realized that he was in no position to make demands and all he could do is throw himself at the mercy of his father.  I believe that the son knew deep down that he could always return to the father because he understood the nature of his father.  So, defeated, broken, stinking, hungry, and tired he approached the father just as he was and was accepted by his father just as he had hoped for and more!  It is the same with you and me.  When we stray from the Heavenly Father, we approach Him reverently and humbly seeking to be restored to fellowship. As we humble ourselves before Him he will lift us up.  All who come to the Father just as they are will not be cast out or aside.  The Heavenly Father loves each of us and wants that fellowship restored.  Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up!