How can we avoid the prodigal son's mistakes in our spiritual journey? A snapshot of rock bottom – Luke 15:15 “He went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.” What had begun as freedom ended in servitude; what had looked like plenty ended in famine; what had felt glamorous ended in filth. Recognize where drifting starts • Dissatisfaction with the Father’s provision (Luke 15:12) • A desire to experience “a distant country” (v. 13) • Ignoring warnings such as Proverbs 14:12—“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Guard your heart against “distant-country” thinking • Cultivate gratitude (1 Thessalonians 5:18). • Remember past deliverances (Deuteronomy 8:2). • Keep your eyes on eternal reward, not short-lived thrills (Hebrews 11:24-26). Count the cost of serving sin • Sin always promises more than it pays (Romans 6:23). • The prodigal thought he would command servants; he became one. • Feeding pigs was unclean work for a Jew (Leviticus 11:7). Sin drags us lower than we ever planned to go. Refuse to trade sonship for hireling status • Believers are “children of God” (1 John 3:1), not day-laborers scrambling for scraps. • When tempted, remind yourself whose name you bear (2 Timothy 2:19). Choose instant repentance over gradual ruin • The longer he stayed away, the deeper the famine bit (Luke 15:14-16). • David’s swift confession in 2 Samuel 12:13 spared him deeper consequences. • “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15). Stay anchored in godly fellowship • Isolation accelerates compromise (Proverbs 18:1). • The younger son left every voice that might have corrected him; Hebrews 10:24-25 calls us to the opposite. Pursue daily dependence on the Father • Prayer and the Word keep the heart at home (Psalm 119:11). • Submit plans before acting (James 4:13-15). • Let the Spirit steer desires (Galatians 5:16). Living it out today 1. Start every morning affirming, “I am the Father’s beloved child—nothing outside His will can improve that.” 2. Inventory any area where discontent is whispering “there must be more.” Surrender it immediately. 3. Keep short accounts with God: confess sin as soon as conviction strikes. 4. Surround yourself with believers who will speak truth when you flirt with distant countries. By learning from Luke 15:15, we avoid the pigsty and enjoy uninterrupted fellowship with the Father who joyfully calls us His own. |
    |