Devotionals for the Heart: Reflections on The Parable of the Prodigal Son

What the Father Really Wants from Us
A devotional by Suzanne Felton

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” —Matthew 7:7-11 (NIV)

For people who grew up in the Christian church and read the Bible often, one the most familiar parables spoken by Jesus Christ and recorded in The Holy Bible is the one about a father and his two sons. This story, known as “The Parable of the Prodigal Son”, is found in Luke 15:11-32. So simple on its surface, yet so profoundly deep, it speaks to me in new ways every time I read it. As I dwell on it this time, I’m struck by the character of the father, and how often I forget who he really is and what he really wants from his children.

In the story, the younger son demands his inheritance early and heads to a distant country to live his life the way he wants to, away from his father’s watchful eye. When the money runs out and reality sets in, he realizes that even his father’s servants have it better than he does. Broken and ashamed, he returns home prepared to grovel and beg his father to treat him like one of his hired servants (Luke 15:19). Meanwhile, the older son remains at home, dutifully doing his chores and patting himself on the back for being the “good son”.

For all of us, there are times when we behave like the younger son on some level, knowingly choosing to do something that brings us pleasure in the moment instead of what God knows is right and best for us. Whether we spent a long season seeking self-satisfaction or only give in occasionally to our human weakness, we all have sinned and fallen short of God’s high standard (Romans 3:23). When remorse comes, we like the younger son, feel shame and unworthiness, believing that our Heavenly Father will only punish us if He will listen to us at all.

How does the father in the parable respond to his sinful son? Does he show the anger and judgement that his son expects and, let’s face it, deserves? Does he display a look of disappointment and deliver a lecture on how he hopes the son has learned his lesson? No. Not even close. Luke 15:20 (NIV) tells us, “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.”

There was no anger, no lecture, no punishment; in fact, the son had barely finished apologizing when the father called to his servants and said, “Let’s have a feast and celebrate” (Luke 15:23). It wasn’t just a small party, either. The father wanted the most expensive food prepared and the finest clothes brought out for his younger son. I must confess: This is not how I often think of God.

It’s easy to forget that the story didn’t end there. Maybe we’d like a nice, happy ending with father and son reunited in celebration, but there’s still the older brother to address. His reaction to his sibling’s return and his father’s lavish outpouring is anything but happy. He flat-out refuses to enter the party, and when his father comes looking for him and pleads for him to join the festivities, he says in Luke 15:29-30 (NIV), “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. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!”

Could it be that the older son is sometimes forgotten because his reaction seems justified? After all, what he says is true. He hadn’t done anything wrong, yet his little brother, who shirked his duty and squandered their father’s money on prostitutes, gets all the attention and praise. Didn’t he have a point?

The father in this story doesn’t give the older son the affirmation he’s fishing for. Rather, he simply reminds him that, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours” (Luke 15:31). The older son believes he should have earned his father’s approval through his own efforts, but his father’s love was freely his all along. If I’m honest with myself, I’m a lot like the older brother at times, too.

Scripture tells us that Jesus told this parable to an audience made up of “tax collectors and sinners” as well as Pharisees and teachers of the law (Luke 15:1-2).

The story was addressed to all of them, and all of us. It reminds us that our Heavenly Father’s abundant love is freely given to us all. What He wants from us is relationship and fellowship, not box-checking. We don’t have to earn His love, and we can’t do anything to lose it.

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for your infinite, unconditional love. Help me to remember that I don’t have to work to earn that love, and that, even when I miss the mark, You are always waiting for me—not with a lecture, but with open arms and a big heart of love. Help me to fully receive the love you freely give. In your Son Jesus Christ’s Name, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “He Wants It All” by ForeverJones. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Prodigal” by Sidewalk Prophets. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Suzanne Felton has been a writer for most of her life, even before she realized it. 

She has worked in a wide range of settings, from non-profits to science labs to government contracts to educational classrooms, all of which involved writing in one form or another.

Suzanne is amazed by the power of words and now uses her passion and experience to help authors and students as a writing coach. Encouraging others to find the words and the courage to share their stories is one of her greatest joys.

Suzanne’s devotionals have been published in periodicals and blogs including The Upper Room, The Love Offering, Keys 4 Kids, and The Swallow’s Nest. She is also a two-time finalist in the Cascade Christian Writing Contest for poetry.

She is a wife, mother, writer, reader, teacher, deep thinker, and sinner saved by grace. Suzanne and her family reside in Northern Virginia, but Suzanne will always call her native South Carolina home.

Married to her best friend for twenty-five years, Suzanne is active in her church, where she and her husband have served as deacons for over a decade. They enjoy watching sports and visiting national parks with their two teenage sons. Suzanne is also an avid birder, easily and happily distracted by anything with feathers.

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Connect with Suzanne:
Website: https://suzannefelton.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/l_suzanne_felton
Email address: suzannefeltonwriter@gmail.com