Luke 15:11-32 Pig’s Food or a Banquet?
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: October 2, 2018 Luke 15:11-32
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
(Understanding the Text) This parable is told in response to the Pharisees’ criticism of Jesus receiving sinners and eating with them, specifically the tax collectors. It symbolized the Jews who had been part of the Jewish family, rejected it, and now wanted to return. At the end there is dissatisfaction by the elder brother for the return of his younger brother. Put in a family relationship, the elder brother’s jealousy is seen as selfish. He has no love for his younger brother which is unnatural. Jesus is pointing out that the Pharisees’ lack of love and compassion for the sinners he was eating with demonstrates that it is the Pharisees who have a problem. The sinners are lost members of their own families, their brothers, and should be received back with open arms and gladness.
(Revelation of God) Jesus is pointing out that just because we have a bad attitude about something, it doesn’t mean that God has the same attitude as we do. We need to lighten up and feel joy at the return of a sinner rather than feel cynical about his/her sincerity and ability to maintain a relationship.
God always receives us with open arms. He will never force us to come to Him, but He waits eagerly for us. He wants to surround us with His love and reassure us that we are still His. He wants us to know, whether we are prodigal or loyal, that He is with us and loves us. The older brother could not appreciate the fact that his father was and had always been with him. Instead, he was jealous of the father’s love for someone else. Just because the father was celebrating the return of one did not mean that he loved the other any less.
(Application / Prayer) As Christians, we can make our Father happy by loving the others that He loves whether they are our brothers and sisters in Christ–some of whom may have strayed, or whether they are from outside the family and need to be adopted in. He loves the sinners, and He wants us to love them also. He sees the hurt and wants to heal it, and He wants us to look beyond the dirt to the hurt also. Teach me to love Your other children. I can’t do it; it hurts too much. When I am hurt by others, it is impossible for me to open myself up to love. I need You to transform me.