|
prod·i·gal [prod-i-guhl]
–adjective
1.wastefully or recklessly extravagant: prodigal expenditure.
2.giving or yielding profusely; lavish (usually fol. by of or with): prodigal of smiles; prodigal with money.
3.lavishly abundant; profuse: nature's prodigal resources.
–noun
4.a person who spends, or has spent, his or her money or substance with wasteful extravagance; spendthrift.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010
The Prodigal God:
1. allows choices
Luke 15:11-12
"Jesus continued: 'There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.'" NIV
Joshua 24:14-15
"Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.'" NIV
2. gives His life
Luke 15:11-12
"Jesus continued: 'There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.'" NIV
Luke 15:12
"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." KJV
Romans 5:6
"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." NIV
1 Corinthians 15:3
"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures," NIV
3. does not escape or send away
Luke 15:13
"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living." NIV
Genesis 2:16-17
"And the Lord God commanded the man, 'You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.'" NIV
Isaiah 1:18
"'Come now, let us reason together,' says the Lord.
'Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.'" NIV
4. cares for people
Luke 15:17
"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!'" NIV
Nahum 1:6
"The Lord is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in Him," NIV
5. is worthy of obedience
Luke 15:18-19
"I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'" NIV
Psalm 96:4-6
"For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before Him;
strength and glory are in His sanctuary." NIV
Psalm 145:3
"Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
His greatness no one can fathom." NIV
Revelation 5:9-10
"And they sang a new song:
You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." NIV
6. waits patiently
Luke 15:20
"So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." NIV
2 Peter 3:9
"The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." NIV
2 Peter 3:8-10
"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare." NIV
7. restores relationship
Luke 15:22
"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet." NIV
John 15:5
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing." NIV
John 15:13-15
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." NIV
8. celebrates relationship
Luke 15:23-24
"Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate." NIV
Luke 15:7
"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." NIV
Luke 15:10
"In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." NIV
9. pleads for relationship
Luke 15:28
"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him." NIV
Ezekiel 33:11
"Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?'" NIV
Matthew 23:37
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing." NIV
10. gives everything He has
Luke 15:31
"'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.'" NIV
Ephesians 1:3
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ." NIV
11. restores life
Luke 15:32
"But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" NIV
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." NIV
John 5:24
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; He has crossed over from death to life" NIV
| 
