Skip to content
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Youtube
DONATE
Intentional Life
  • Listen
  • Watch
  • Read
  • Attend
  • About
    • Stay Connected
    • Membership
    • Contact
    • Share your Story
    • Who Is Jesus?
    • Found on Family Life Radio
    • Free Resources
  • Donate
  • Listen
  • Watch
  • Read
  • Attend
  • About
    • Stay Connected
    • Membership
    • Contact
    • Share your Story
    • Who Is Jesus?
    • Found on Family Life Radio
    • Free Resources
  • Donate

The Prodigal Son

  • June 1, 2017
Picture of Steven Davis

Steven Davis

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.” – Luke 15: 11-13

Dr. Randy taught through his High Stake Relationship series last month, and I thought it would be appropriate to ponder perhaps the most notorious adult child in the New Testament, the Prodigal Son.

Most commentators, pastors and teachers agree that the father in this parable represents God the Father. And the son . . . well, that’s you and me. And you know that bad or stupid decisions are not beyond our capabilities. But there may be some of us who are parents to adult kids, and they are now writhing beneath the consequences of bad decisions. So what do you do? What did God do? Well before we answer that question, let’s look a little further into the life and choices of the Prodigal.

“After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father” (vv. 14-20).

After suffering through the consequences of his bad choices, Scripture says, “When he came to his senses…” There is the key to your prayers for your adult child. As he either celebrates his bad decisions or suffers through the consequences of it, pray for an epiphany. Pray for enlightenment. Pray for an “ah-ha” moment. And then pray that after he “comes to his senses,” he has the resolve to act.

So what did God do? What do we do? Wait. Watch. And for us, pray. The challenge with adult children is that they are adults. And as such, they may choose to ignore your advice. That’s where prayer comes in.

The great news about the Prodigal is that following his enlightenment, he repented. Repentance is kind of an old-fashioned word, but it literally means to turn around. For the Prodigal, he turned around and went home.

So pray.

Now remember, this parable isn’t just about adult children; it’s about you and me and the decisions we make. Maybe you need to turn around. God is waiting for you, and He will be far more lavish in His forgiveness and love than you can ever imagine. So turn around and go home.

Popular Posts

Everyday Forgiveness

Good friends are good for the soul, providing positive experiences, motivation and inspiration for life

Read More »

Challenge Your Assumptions

Many things in our lives today are completely out of our control, so we give

Read More »

inTENtionals for When to Fix or Finish a Friendship

Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. (Proverbs 2:11 NLT) Friendship

Read More »

inTENtionals for Marriages That Last

  Top Ten List of What You Can Do to Build a Marriage that Lasts

Read More »

How Thankful Are You?

As we move into Thanksgiving and Christmas, a question arises: How thankful are you? Are

Read More »
Previous Next

Related Articles

Clearing Space for Peace

The Rest We Refuse

The “What,” “How,” “Where” and “When”

How to Have More Ah-Ha Moments

Site Links

  • About
  • Statement of Faith
  • Ways to listen
  • Donation Info
  • Financial Statements
  • Prayer Wall
  • Who Is Jesus?
  • Share Your Story
  • Free Resources
  • Contest Rules
  • About
  • Statement of Faith
  • Ways to listen
  • Donation Info
  • Financial Statements
  • Prayer Wall
  • Who Is Jesus?
  • Share Your Story
  • Free Resources
  • Contest Rules

About

Intentional Living National Ministry Headquarters | PO Box 35300 – Tucson, AZ 85740 | (800) 776-1070 EFCA Tax ID #38-1812892 Charity Navigator

Latest Episodes

Clarity of Purpose – Part 2

June 20, 2025

Physicist Steven Hawking wrote: “Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it.” But… what if there is more to life than

Read More »

Clarity of Purpose

June 19, 2025

Physicist Steven Hawking wrote: “Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it.” But… what if there is more to life than

Read More »

Subscribe to our weekly broadcast and updates

Support Intentional Living

Your donation makes a difference!

DONATE!

Social

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Youtube
© 2025 Copyright A Ministry of Intentional Life Media. All rights reserved.    Privacy Policy

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.

decline
Accept & Close