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Prodigal Sons and Daughters

Updated: Jun 30, 2021


Jesus once told a story which is recorded in Matthew 21: 29 – 31. A man had two sons, and he told the first son to go and work in his vineyard. The first son refused but later regretted it, changed his mind, and went to work in the vineyard. The man also told his second son to go and work in his vineyard, and the second son said he would go, but never went. Jesus said it is actually the first son who did the will of the father.


Has God told you to do something and you said you will not do it? It could be anything; a call to ministry, or is God asking you to make a move, or return to your family, or make a huge structural change? Whatever the case may be, if up till this moment you said you will not do it, and have not done it does not mean you cannot be like the first son. You can regret your actions and do the right thing starting now. You will be accepted by God if you do it now, and just as Jesus said the first son did the will of the father, you will be doing the will of the Father if you turn from your disobedient ways and obey God starting now.


God typically restores wasted years. He also restores things that were lost. So don’t look at what you have lost, God can restore what you have lost, and He will do so if you become obedient.


Let us look at some scriptures:


Job 42:10 (New International Version)
After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.

Recall that in Job 42:8 God had told Job to pray for His friends. As He obeyed, God restored his fortunes, and gave him double. Job had suffered untold losses and his situation had become very desperate, but God is the God who made Heaven and Earth (Genesis 1), He dried up the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21), He dried up the Jordan River and the made the Israelites pass through on dry ground (Joshua 4:23). That God can do anything!

Zechariah 9:12 (New International Version)

Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.

Once again here, an action precedes God’s double restoration. The Lord says in Zech 9:12 “Return…”. Returning is about repentance. Remember that the first son in Matthew 21:29 – 31 regretted his actions, and then went to obey the father. When you repent, and return to where God wants you to be, He will restore to you double! God has not changed, He is the same God today as He was when He gave the instruction in Zechariah 9 (Hebrews 13:8, Malachi 3:6).


Maybe you have gone far from where you should be, in your walk with God, and in what God is calling you to do, in the lifestyle you are currently living, or in the people God has raised you up to bless, deliver, or advocate for. You feel God calling you to live your life in a certain direction, and in a certain way but you bluntly said NO. It is never too late to change your mind and obey God, and go in His own prescribed direction. As a matter of fact, based on what Jesus said, if you do it now you are doing the will of the Father.


Let us look at the Bible account of The Prodigal Son


Luke 15: 11 – 22 (New International Version)

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

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. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 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.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

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. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

The prodigal son had everything after he asked his father for his inheritance. His father gave him his inheritance early. He took it and wasted it on wanton living, and was empty and broken. However, one day He decided to return home. While he was still a long way off, his father ran to him.


God will run to you while you are still a long way off. Don’t worry about how far you have to walk to get to where God wants you to be, just make the decision today to do the right thing, and start doing the right thing. Ask God for forgiveness and mercy, He will forgive you and accept you. God will run to you, embrace you, put a ring on your finger, sandals on your feet, and throw a party for you. It is amazing!


If you have not made Jesus the Lord and Saviour of your life, you have an opportunity to do it right now. The Bible says in Romans 10:9 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”. You can do this by praying the Salvation Prayer out loud, but mean it from your heart. God will make you brand new and you will begin a new journey in God.


Maybe you were once born again but you fell away, you too can pray the Salvation Prayer out loud from your heart to rededicate your life to God. God will step into your life and into your heart, and begin to work in you.


Now that you are born again, here is something you should read HERE. Also see something for New Believers

God bless you.



About the Author

Edikan Uko is an entrepreneur, and management consultant focusing on strategic management and innovation. She is also a Bible teacher, speaker, Founder and President of Judah Global Intercessors, and editor of LoveFaithandMiracles.com


Twitter: @IAmEdikanUko

Email: edikan@lovefaithandmiracles.com

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