137. The Prayer Of The Prodigal Son.

The Prayer Of The Prodigal Son. The Prayer as recorded.—Luke 15:20-24. A wanderer from his father’s love, his home and friends, the prodigal is in a state of abject servitude and misery. The world with its thousand siren voices had lured him from the path of virtue; dissipation in its most bitter form had made him wretched; his eyes had been dazzled by the attractive light of a wasting, consuming fire, and he is ready to perish. In his present forlorn condition, the poor man, in the expressive phrase of Scripture, “came to himself,’’ he has all along acted against reason, judgment, and conscience; sin has blinded him, but now deep and bitter reflections awaken him to a sense of degradation and misery; but there is something to be done if he would be relieved—he must resolve.

Observe the promptness of his resolution after he sees his true state; perhaps his father will hear him although he has despised his authority and wasted his substance. There is a hope—a “beam of comfort like the moon through clouds;” it inspires him to “arise and go to his father,” and while he is yet a great way off, that father forgives him, has compassion on him, falls on his neck as he comes to him, and receives him as a child. God is willing to receive every sinner just as this father did his son, if “coming to himself,” he resolve in prayer to seek him.

“The greatest attribute of heaven is mercy; And ’tis the crown of justice, and the glory, Where it may kill with right, To save with pity.”

There is a general and intellectual conviction of sin which remains as it were shut up in the heart or understanding, and there is another which controls all the affections and acts, which makes a man a Christian; it leads him to prayer, and makes him prompt in serving God. David was a man in whose life we see distinctly these two states of feeling, one before Nathan came to him and the other after. The latter was the feeling of the prodigal.

We do not find him remaining where he is, but active in using the means to ameliorate his condition, he goes to his father. Reader, have you done this? Are you often at the mercy-seat confessing your sin against heaven? We know that many have felt themselves sinners, their convictions have been deep, billows may have rolled over the soul mountains high, and yet the waters may not have washed away one sin, or cleansed it from its deep pollution. You must go with the spirit of the prodigal; your heavenly Father will come to meet you at your first resolve to seek him. There is joy through all the shining courts of heaven when one repenting sinner comes to the mercy-seat.

“Satan trembles when he sees The weakest saint upon his knees.” But God, his Father and his Friend, is there to meet him. It may be said by some who have no idea of God’s justice, no conception of his broken law, our own case and this prodigal are entirely dissimilar; our course has not been one of recklessness and folly; to such we would say, sin has made you, like him, miserable and wretched; sin has made you a wanderer from your Father’s heart and love, and the words of living fire on the page of Holy Writ tell you, “If a man say he hath no sin he deceiveth himself.”

All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. As long as you do not arise and go to the Father whom you have offended, you are in a state of abject misery; however brightly the world may smile upon you, you are feeding on husks. Oh, be warned in time! We would lead you to return with the prodigal, we would show you the affectionate embrace of the Father, the hearty welcome; and the peace of that restored heart. His prayer is simple but efficacious; it enters the father’s heart, and so will yours if you will go with him.