Luke 15:
11 Jesus went on to say,
"There was once a man who had two sons.
12 The younger one said to him,
'Father, give me my share of the property now.'
SSo the man divided his property between his two sons. . . . .
20 So he got up and started back to his father.
19 I am no longer fit to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired workers." '
20 So he got up and started back to his father.
"He was still a long way from home when his father saw him; his heart was filled with compassion, and he ran, threw his arms around his son, and kissed him.
21 'Father,' the son said, 'I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.'
22 But the father called to his servants.
'Hurry!' he said. 'Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet.
23 Then go and get the prize calf and kill it, and let us celebrate with a feast!
24 For this son of mine was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.' And so the feasting began.     (Good News Bible)

So far in this study, we have been considering only the young man and his experience.
Today we want to look at his father.

The story told by the Lord Jesus seems to begin with the last scene of an ongoing discussion between the father and his younger son. The sense is that this argument of how much control the young man has over his own destiny, has been going on for the last several years.

The father has been trying to convince his son that the young man isn't yet ready to handle his inheritance, because the young man doesn't have any settled purpose for his life and for his wealth.
The young man has been replying that the father is simply trying to keep him back and box him in.
At the beginning of this account the young man is telling his father forcefully that the only way to settle this matter is for them to separate and for him to have his inheritance NOW. So they separate.
The father has stopped talking and has resorted to prayer only. He has placed the young man in God's hands and sent him out to meet the pig pen.

We know that the father has been praying in faith for this young man. We know this because faith always has a sense of expectation. We see this expectation speaking loudly in Jesus' words:
"He was still a long way from home when his father saw him; his heart was filled with compassion, and he ran, threw his arms around his son, and kissed him. . . !"
The father sees in the young man's demeanor that he has laid down arrogance and taken up humility.
That's enough for the loving heart of this father, who had wished to spare his son the pig pen experience!

The first time we hear the father's voice is as the young man arrives back home, humble and with a realistic attitude to life! Then we hear the father's words and attitude come forth strongly:
22 But the father called to his servants. 'Hurry!' he said. 'Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet.
23 Then go and get the prize calf and kill it, and let us celebrate with a feast!
24 For this son of mine was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.' And so the feasting began.

The father had sent his son out lost to reality and reason, and dead to those at home who loved him. The father had been sitting at home, with a heavy heart, grieving and yet praying with expectancy.
Now he began to rejoice that he had received the answer to his prayer of faith. His son is alive: but not merely alive.
His son is whole in mind. The son is no longer in a lost state. He has found his way to reality and a place of reason.
Hallelujah!
That's what praying with faith and expectancy can achieve!
Let us do like this father and learn how to trust God with our loved ones in this way!

Prayer:
Loving Father in heaven,
thank You that Your heart yearns over us in the same way that this father's heart yearned over his unreasonable son.
Today I run to You and I ask that You restore reason in every place where I am at present unreasonable.
Thank You that in Your purpose I find my way in life and I am alive!
Hallelujah for Your salvation,  Lord Jesus Christ,
Amen.

See you tomorrow, God willing,
so we can continue knowing the Lord together!
Meanwhile, have a great day walking with the Lord!