Luke 15:11-31 There are probably many lessons that could be drawn from the parable of the lost son. I believe that certainly not the least is the idea of reconciliation and relationship. In the Old Testament we read in Exodus 20:12 `honor your father and mother, that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.' It mentions in the New Testament that this is the first commandment with promise. Although, for the most part it is not happening, the ideal and intention of God is that Fathers should disciple their children, teaching them by example, instruction, discipline, etc. A godly character should be the legacy that a father strives to leave his children. Of course, the greatest honor that a son or daughter can give to a godly father is that he takes up the mantle of character and relationship and be drawn to a relationship with God the ultimate Father. In our Scripture today, the son did not start being lost when he found himself out with the pigs. He was lost from the beginning. He just didn't know it when he was living at home. His father was willing to take the chance and let him go - not really knowing if his son would ever come back. He probably thought that just maybe rubbing against a cold, uncaring world, his son might wake up. It is the heritage passed on, the mantle taken up, and the relationship established that makes each generation's experience with God fresh, new and alive. Do we do a good job at this? For the most part no; but that certainly does not have to continue. If you will learn from Him, we have a Father in heaven that can teach us. Bad fatherhood can end with you. If it's too late for our physical children, it is certainly not with the spiritual children that God would place in front of us. We may not have long, but in the time that we do have - let's be the example of the father! Leave the results to God.?

Fatherly Reconciliation