The Prodigal Son

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When we refer to a prodigal, we are referring to someone who was following Jesus but for whatever reason is no longer. The reason doesn't matter, what matters is our (and God's) desire for our loved one to return to faith.

In the Bible, Jesus tells the parable of the prodigal son who asks his father for his inheritance before the appropriate time and squanders it on foolish, wasteful living (if you don't yet know the story, you can read it here). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+15%3A11-32&version=NLT 

Many of us would not blame the father if he refused or even disowned his son if this happened today. In fact at the time, the community would have expected the father to stone his son. But as we know, that did not happen. In a seemingly uncharacteristic fashion, the father in the story "ran to his son, kissed him and embraced him" when he finally returned home. This is the picture of how God rejoices when we return to his family.

We believe in and stand on the promises of God throughout scripture as we pray for the return of prodigals. Here are a few examples we take comfort in:

Nehemiah 4:14 -  After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” 

Luke 15:7 - In the same way there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed.

Philippians 1:6 - And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Romans 8:38 - And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.