As we pray for those near our homes, let's remember that those who are moving away from our heavenly Father need to repent and come back home, to our eternal home, which is of far greater importance than any home that we build for ourselves here.
Bible passage:
Parable of the Lost son: Parts of Luke 15: 11-24
There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Did you know that there is a contorted version of the story of the lost (prodigal) son in Mahayana Sutra, one of the eastern philosophical books (written around 150 AD)? There are two major ways in which that story differs from what we read in Luke 15, and these two differences capture to an extent, the minds and worldviews of people around us.
(i) In Luke 15, the younger son SINNED against the Father, repents and acknowledges his undeservedness 'I am not worthy to be called your son.' In Mahayana Sutra, the son leaves because of ignorance, and at the end gets enlightened to know that he deserves the inheritance.
(ii) In Luke 15, the Father is moved with COMPASSION, runs, and embraces the son. In Mahayana Sutra, we don't see such emotions in the father, as their conception of God is emotionless and distinctionless (not set apart).
They have very different conceptions of both sin and God. Thus when they are hungry (suffering) like the younger son, they conclude that food doesn't exist! Shall we pray that our Father would reveal Himself to them and open their eyes so that they will come back home to a Father who feeds them?
Prayer points:
Pray that the Holy Spirit would convict them of their sin and their need for forgiveness.
Pray that God would reveal Himself as the Lord who is compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love.
Pray that they would know that Jesus is the way, the truth, the life.
Pray that God would open their spiritual eyes and that they believe the Gospel (to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me Acts 26:18).
Pray that God would open their hearts and that they would pay attention to the Gospel (The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul Acts 16:14).
If you can, try memorizing Isaiah 55:6,7.
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