The Prodigal Son

By Paul Rupe

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Galatians 4:7

Remember the story of the prodigal son? We find it in Luke 15:11-24, which says,

A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to [his] father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth [to me]. And he divided unto them [his] living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put [it] on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on [his] feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill [it]; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

The prodigal knew that he had messed up and was certain that his father would accept him only as a hired servant rather than as his son, but what did the father do? He told his servants to put the best robes on him, put a ring on his finger, and to kill a fatted calf in celebration because his son had finally come home.

This earthly father in Jesus’ parable never changed his mind about the identity of his son and believer God never changes His mind about you.

The apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans,

For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Romans 11:29

This simply means that God never changes His mind about the fact that He has made you His child.

Dear believer, the truth is regardless of what you may have done, you belong to God. God will never be satisfied with you being merely a servant because He has made you His son!