Prodigal Son: How to Repent

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What happens when we try to plan our own repentance?

Luke 15:11-19

I once read a whodunit where the murderer criss crossed the country killing people whose carbon footprints were excessively large. He had decided they didn't deserve to live, and that God would be pleased with him because he was saving the planet for future generations. This fictional story is kind of ridiculous, but it reminds me of how futile and destructive it is when we try to come to God on our own merit.

In Luke 15 Jesus tells three different parables to answer the question of why he chooses to eat with sinners (Luke 15:2). The third story, the one about the prodigal son, initially teases us with the idea that maybe we can find a way to return to God in our strength. All of us can relate to this younger son who, finally in hunger comes to his senses and tries to fix what he has destroyed. But, as we dig deeper into his reasoning we see that he is confused about which sin has actually separated him from God. Maybe, we do this too. Look at Luke 15:11-24.

11 He also said, "A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.' So he distributed the assets to them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living. 14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing. 15 Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to eat his fill from the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. 17 When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I'll get up, go to my father, and say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers."' 20 So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was till a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I'm no longer worthy to be called your son.'

22 "But the father told his servants, 'Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let's celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' So they began to celebrate. CSB

When the younger son asked his father to divide up the estate in this parable it was a scandalous request. Usually this division of wealth would not have occurred before the father's death. It must have felt to the audience listening to this parable like the son was asking for the father to die, and yet the father willingly gives his son his part of the inheritance. Keep in mind that in all three parables found in Luke 15 Jesus is telling stories about himself, so the compassionate father in this parable is a picture of Jesus. After, all the money has been spent in foolish living the prodigal son remembers how his father treated his own employees, but this memory isn't going to prove helpful. So, what happens when we use our earthly wisdom to try to approach a holy God?

In self-initiated repentance we will admit we are wrong because we are hungry.

Many of us have the ability to connect the dots between our bad behavior and the consequences of our sins. We know when we have begun to reap what we have sown, but we are often still blinded to how we have broken God's heart. The younger son thought his error was in his mismanagement of funds, but in reality his actions were only a symptom of his attitude toward his father. Since he did not know his father's compassionate heart he actually thought his father's acceptance had to be earned. Like the younger son it is impossible for us to trust Jesus if we think his grace only flows when we meet certain conditions. When returning to God is our idea, instead of the leading and conviction of the Holy Spirit we won't even know the root cause which has separated us from God.

Jesus taught this to the crowds in John 6:44,

44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise

him up on the last day. CSB

The Moabites, a tribal group found in the Old Testament, tried to appease their god by sacrificing their own infant children, The Greeks thought visiting a temple prostitute was an acceptable act of worship. When we read of these ancient practices we know these were not paths to holy redemption. But, do we realize how common it is for us to believe it is possible for us to earn God's attention? Do we think that if we only fasted more, contemplated more or gave more money to a needy cause God would be obligated to answer our prayers? Unfortunately, this kind of reasoning is a system of works and not an opportunity to experience the outpouring of God's unmerited favor.

Why do we primarily think about behavior when we talk of repentance?

In self-initiated repentance we will always seek to make it right in our strength.

Thinking the error was in his loss of the families wealth the son failed to see that father's deep desire for a relationship with him. He also, is clueless at just how generous his father is. Soon, the younger son imagines a plan for reparation. He considers the hired men who work for his father. Besides house servants or farm laborers, a land owner in Jesus' day would employ skilled professionals like carpenters, mason, or blacksmith. Maybe, the son thought an apprenticeship with one of these careers was a possibility. But, the truth is if we could eliminate our sin in our strength Jesus would not have had to die for us.

Paul wrote this about our self efforts in righteousness in Romans 10:3.

Since they are ignorant of the righteousness of God and attempted to establish their own

righteousness, they have not submitted to God's righteousness. CSB

My heart goes out to young moms who are trying to practice the spiritual discipline of a quiet time, but still have small children. Like many mother I was never the mom who could wake up before her children. Whey my boys were little I asked them to not bother me, unless it was an emergency, while the TV show Mr. Rogers was playing in another room. It was a thirty minute window I thought might give me a short time to meditate on God's word. This worked for a little while until it didn't.

One day while I was praying with my eyes open I saw my son coming toward me. Immediately, I shut my eyes hoping he would get the hint and leave me alone. Gently he began to rub my legs. Keeping my eyes tightly closed I desperately prayer, "Lord, please let him leave me alone."

And, then my son said, "Uh oh mommy, it is time to shave." His comments brought tears of laughter because it was time to shave, and that unexpected hilarity ruined all attempts at a quiet reflexion that day.

Knowing my desire and frustration a friend suggested I try journaling my prayers, so that when I was interrupted I could reread what I had written and pick-up my train of thought. This again worked for a while until it didn't. Trying to keep a prayer journal taught me how to write, but it also made me feel guilty when I missed this morning ritual. I became convinced that when my mornings started without prayer my day was not going to go well. Unfortunately, my efforts at practicing a spiritual discipline had transformed into a convoluted path where I was trying to earn and control God's favor, instead of seeking an opportunity to just be with him. Eventually, I came to an experiential knowledge that God loves me no matter how my days stars. If we are not careful even a noble goal like daily contemplation can b twisted into a system to earn God's approval.

In self-initiated repentance we can never imagine our full restoration to true sonship.

Never is his wildest dreams could the prodigal son see his rights as a son restored. To satisfy his empty belly he was content to become one of his father's hired hands. We see in these verses that God delights in exceeding even our grandest imaginations. We just want to right the wrongs we have done, and in our view balance the scales. We want to restore what was lost because of our foolish choices. We want to do some act of penance instead of rushing to the righteousness found in Christ alone.

God wants a relationship with us that is based on us being born into the right family, the family of God. He wants to forgive us and make us his child. This is his primary goal every time he initiates our repentance, and not some behavioral change. Behavioral changes will come once we know we are fully loved by God, but a certain behavior is not Jesus' motivation in our restoration. This parable in Luke 15 is a picture of Jesus and his mighty power to restore his child. Look at Romans 8:15-17.

15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received

the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father!" 16 The Spirit himself

testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children, 17 and if children, also heirs

---heirs of God and coheirs with Christ---if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also

be glorified with him. CSB

Why is it freeing to remember how deeply God desires a relationship with us?

In self-initiated repentance we will admit we were wrong because we are hungry, we will seek to make it right in our strength, but we can never imagine our full restoration to true sonship.

Our plans to be restored to God always remain conditional, always rely on our own efforts. and always fall short of what true repentance and restoration looks like. Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost because they could not restore themselves, Yes, the son starts the journey home with the idea hi will work for his father, but his motivation does not come from a true conviction of sin, Instead, he is trying to avoid the consequences of his choices. In this parable it is the father who initiates genuine restoration when he runs to his son. We notice in this story that before the son can finish his rehearsed speech with these words "...Make me like one of your hired workers," the father interrupts his planned remarks by calling or a new robe, a ring, sandals and a party. Never, does the father ask the son to work for his acceptance. The son does have a choice to make in genuine repentance though, and it is whether he will accept this place as his father's child.

There is a special irony that Jesus inserts in the son's prepared message to the father. This phrase, "I have sinned against heaven and in your sight," is actually a quote from a speech Pharaoh gave to Moses in Exodus 10:16-17. Pharaoh speaks these words when he has grown tired of the plagues, and the consequences of his own sin. We know that Jesus' audience in Luke 15 knew this quote, and we know that according to the Bible Pharaoh never repented. Remorse is not the same as trusting God.

Everything comes from God, even the ability to repent. At first the younger son selfishly wanted the benefits of being his father's child without desiring a relationship with him. Like any good father, God longs for us to experience the joy of being his child. Can we hear him calling for the best rob, the fancy ring, the comfortable sandals and for a feast to be thrown in honor of our home coming? It is all true, but the greatest gift God wants to gifts us with is himself.

What happens when we try to plan our own repentance? God reveals his heart in Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son.