Coming Home: Finding Grace in the Parable of the Prodigal Son
Adapted from: No Place Like Home by Hayden Gilliam
Ever feel like you've wandered too far from where you're supposed to be? Maybe you've made choices that left you empty, or perhaps you're struggling with bitterness toward someone who seems to get grace they don't deserve. Jesus told a story that speaks directly to both situations—and it might surprise you how relevant it is to your life right now.
The Brother Who Ran Away
In Luke 15, Jesus shares the famous parable of the prodigal son. A younger brother demands his inheritance early (essentially wishing his father dead), takes the money, and runs. He lives recklessly, burns through everything, and ends up so desperate he's envying what the pigs are eating.
Sound dramatic? Maybe. But here's the truth: sin promises us everything but leaves us with nothing.
We all chase something we think will satisfy—success, pleasure, control, approval. Yet these pursuits often leave us broken and alone. The beautiful part of this story? When the son "came to himself" and decided to return home, his father was watching. While the son was still far off, the father ran to him, embraced him, and threw a celebration. No lecture. No probation period. Just pure, compassionate love.
Think about what this younger son looked like—malnourished, filthy from feeding pigs, utterly broken. Yet the father was so filled with compassion that he ran and embraced him anyway. He didn't wait for his son to clean up first. He brought the best robe, a ring, shoes, and killed the fattened calf—the kind of feast reserved for royalty.
That's the heart of our Heavenly Father. You don't need to clean yourself up before coming home. God runs toward you in your mess, ready to restore what sin has stolen.
The Brother Who Stayed Home
But there's another character we often overlook—the older brother. He's been faithful, obedient, working hard. When he hears the celebration for his wayward sibling, he's furious. "I've never disobeyed you, yet you never threw me a party!" he complains.
Here's where it gets uncomfortable: are we being a helper or a hindrance to people coming to Jesus?
The older brother's bitterness kept him outside the celebration. He got his information from a servant instead of going directly to his father. He let pride and comparison poison what should have been a joyful reunion. Instead of celebrating his brother's return, he stood outside, angry and resentful.
Maybe you've been faithfully serving, and it feels like others get grace while you get overlooked. Or perhaps someone who hurt you is trying to return to faith, and you're struggling to extend a hand. Jesus challenges us: will we celebrate restoration, or will we stand outside in judgment?
Notice the father's response to both sons. Just as he ran to meet the younger son, he left the celebration to plead with the older son. "You are always with me, and all that is mine is yours," he said. The father's love extended to both—the one who ran away and the one consumed by bitterness.
Your Next Step Home
Wherever you find yourself in this story, there's an invitation waiting.
If you've wandered from God's plan, return home today. Your Heavenly Father is watching for you, ready to run toward you with open arms. Don't let shame keep you away another day. The knowledge that you need to repent is the first step toward the sweetest reunion you'll ever experience.
If you're the faithful one struggling with bitterness, ask God to soften your heart. Mentor those who need to be mentored. Help others walk with Jesus instead of judging their journey. Pride has no place in accountability—we all need grace. Be quick to extend a helping hand rather than pass judgment.
And if you're somewhere in between, spend time with the Source. Daily connection with Jesus through prayer and Scripture guards your heart from both reckless living and religious bitterness. Are you going to the right source for your anxieties and fears, or are you getting your information from gossip and comparison?
The parable ends without telling us how the older brother responded. That's intentional. Jesus leaves the question hanging for us to answer: How will you respond?
Ready to take a step? Reach out to someone at your church this week—whether you need prayer, want to accept Christ for the first time, or are looking for someone to walk alongside you in faith. Don't leave without making that connection. God has you exactly where you need to be today.
Ever feel like you've wandered too far from where you're supposed to be? Maybe you've made choices that left you empty, or perhaps you're struggling with bitterness toward someone who seems to get grace they don't deserve. Jesus told a story that speaks directly to both situations—and it might surprise you how relevant it is to your life right now.
The Brother Who Ran Away
In Luke 15, Jesus shares the famous parable of the prodigal son. A younger brother demands his inheritance early (essentially wishing his father dead), takes the money, and runs. He lives recklessly, burns through everything, and ends up so desperate he's envying what the pigs are eating.
Sound dramatic? Maybe. But here's the truth: sin promises us everything but leaves us with nothing.
We all chase something we think will satisfy—success, pleasure, control, approval. Yet these pursuits often leave us broken and alone. The beautiful part of this story? When the son "came to himself" and decided to return home, his father was watching. While the son was still far off, the father ran to him, embraced him, and threw a celebration. No lecture. No probation period. Just pure, compassionate love.
Think about what this younger son looked like—malnourished, filthy from feeding pigs, utterly broken. Yet the father was so filled with compassion that he ran and embraced him anyway. He didn't wait for his son to clean up first. He brought the best robe, a ring, shoes, and killed the fattened calf—the kind of feast reserved for royalty.
That's the heart of our Heavenly Father. You don't need to clean yourself up before coming home. God runs toward you in your mess, ready to restore what sin has stolen.
The Brother Who Stayed Home
But there's another character we often overlook—the older brother. He's been faithful, obedient, working hard. When he hears the celebration for his wayward sibling, he's furious. "I've never disobeyed you, yet you never threw me a party!" he complains.
Here's where it gets uncomfortable: are we being a helper or a hindrance to people coming to Jesus?
The older brother's bitterness kept him outside the celebration. He got his information from a servant instead of going directly to his father. He let pride and comparison poison what should have been a joyful reunion. Instead of celebrating his brother's return, he stood outside, angry and resentful.
Maybe you've been faithfully serving, and it feels like others get grace while you get overlooked. Or perhaps someone who hurt you is trying to return to faith, and you're struggling to extend a hand. Jesus challenges us: will we celebrate restoration, or will we stand outside in judgment?
Notice the father's response to both sons. Just as he ran to meet the younger son, he left the celebration to plead with the older son. "You are always with me, and all that is mine is yours," he said. The father's love extended to both—the one who ran away and the one consumed by bitterness.
Your Next Step Home
Wherever you find yourself in this story, there's an invitation waiting.
If you've wandered from God's plan, return home today. Your Heavenly Father is watching for you, ready to run toward you with open arms. Don't let shame keep you away another day. The knowledge that you need to repent is the first step toward the sweetest reunion you'll ever experience.
If you're the faithful one struggling with bitterness, ask God to soften your heart. Mentor those who need to be mentored. Help others walk with Jesus instead of judging their journey. Pride has no place in accountability—we all need grace. Be quick to extend a helping hand rather than pass judgment.
And if you're somewhere in between, spend time with the Source. Daily connection with Jesus through prayer and Scripture guards your heart from both reckless living and religious bitterness. Are you going to the right source for your anxieties and fears, or are you getting your information from gossip and comparison?
The parable ends without telling us how the older brother responded. That's intentional. Jesus leaves the question hanging for us to answer: How will you respond?
Ready to take a step? Reach out to someone at your church this week—whether you need prayer, want to accept Christ for the first time, or are looking for someone to walk alongside you in faith. Don't leave without making that connection. God has you exactly where you need to be today.
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