The Father’s Role in the Life of His Sons

There are three main characters in “the lost son” story: the father, younger son, and older son.

In both of the sons’ lives the father was present with them. A father must be present in the lives of his children. He was present and provided for both of them; however, they took different paths. Your chil-dren may take different paths; therefore, you must pray for discernment on how to handle them be-cause they are wired differently.

The younger son went out and wasted his goods; the father released him and allowed him to go. Sometimes there has to be a release so lessons are experienced. Some lessons have to be learned through experience. The father released him and received him back when the son came to himself, and after repentance, he restored him.

Receiving your children back is showing the heart of God. God received us when we came to faith in Christ. He received us but not that we deserved it. He showed us extreme mercy, compassion, and grace.

There are times when we sin against God, but He doesn’t kick us out of the family. He gives us time to repent and then restores us. God will release you when you want to do your own thing. In the story, the father pleaded with the older son to get his heart right with the younger son. There are going to be those who come back to God from living in ways that go against the very essence of Jesus, but we have to be like the Father and plead with one another that our hearts are opened to who God loves.

He reminded the older son of his place with him (verse 31). We have a place with God and have to see the Father’s heart. You have to remind your children of their place in the family, their value, and their worth.

You have to know that you have a place with God and what is proper to do. The father showed the older son what was proper (verse 32). It’s proper to rejoice when someone who has been lost is now found. It’s proper to rejoice for who has been out of place but now put back in place.
Know your place and what is right to do.

Do you have the capacity to receive those who the Father is receiving?