Lesson 10 for June 4, 2011

The lost
sheep

The lost coin

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

The son decided to become

independent from his father
and to live his own life
without reporting to him.
Sometimes we
willingly separate
from God and want
to live our own life
without counting
on Him.

How did the father feel when his son

wanted to abandon him? How do you think
God feels when you get away from Him?
(Read John, 3: 16)

This young man was

obviously tired of
restrictions and felt
that his freedom was
unduly limited by a
father who cared about
his own selfish interests.

SDA Bible Commentary, on Luke, 15: 12

He didnt remember his father

nor feel any need of him while
everything was going well.
In a moment of his life after
living like a prodigal (a
spendthrift) he harvested the
consequences of his acts.
His sins cost him his financial
stability and his comfortable
home, but also his dignity, his
own respect, his reputation,
his purity and his good
conscience.

So he got up and went to

his father. 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. The son
said to him, 'Father, I have
sinned against heaven and
against you. I am no longer
worthy to be called your
son.'
Luke, 15: 20-21

The father didnt wait for his son to

finish the path that separated them.
He ran to his son and embraced him
and kissed him.

God wants us to recognize our sin, so He

can embrace us and accept us back to
our home.
It doesnt matter how low he fell, God
accepts us and transforms us.

First, the father placed his own robe over

the dirty and stinky garments of his son.
Then, he ordered to dress him with new
clothes, footwear and the familial ring.
Thats how he was welcomed again as a
member of the family.

Once we repented, God covers us with

His robe of forgiveness.

Then, He dresses us with new

garments and restores us as a
member of His family, like we never
sinned.

To give a true representation of the tender, loving, pitying care

exercised by His Father, Jesus gave the parable of the prodigal
son. Though His children err and stray from Him, if they repent
and return, He will receive them with the joy manifested by an
earthly father in receiving a long-lost son who in penitence
returns (E.G.W., Evangelism, cp. 4, Patterning after the Master Evangelist, pg. 56)