In a heartfelt and stirring message delivered during a recent Sunday service, Pastor Paul Bailey explored the deeply human journey of wandering, realization, and return — all through the lens of the parable commonly known as the Prodigal Son. However, Pastor Bailey challenged this traditional title, stating that the story is not just about a rebellious son, but more profoundly about a compassionate and ever-watchful father. “It’s really about a father,” he emphasized, “one who represents our Heavenly Father — always looking, always hoping, and always ready to restore.”
The Wake-Up Call: “How Did I Get Here?”
The sermon opened with a question that resonates with many: How did I get here? Pastor Bailey related it to everyday experiences — such as accidentally driving to the wrong destination out of habit — to illustrate how easily one can go through life on autopilot. In the same way, spiritual drift can occur subtly, through one small misstep at a time.
Referencing Luke 15, Pastor Bailey recounted the prodigal son’s journey: from demanding his inheritance, to reckless living, and eventually to feeding pigs in a foreign land. The young man, expecting condemnation upon returning, instead found love, grace, and restoration. This moment, Pastor Bailey noted, reflects a divine truth: “No matter how far you find yourself from God, you can still find that place of grace.”
Recognize Where You Are
At the heart of the message was a call for honest self-evaluation. Pastor Bailey reminded listeners that the turning point in the story was not when the pigpen got worse — pigpens are always pigpens — but when the son came to himself (Luke 15:17). That recognition was critical.
“We don’t change just because the pigpen gets worse,” Pastor Bailey said. “We change when we get honest with ourselves.” He encouraged the audience to ask themselves: Am I where I’m supposed to be spiritually? Am I following God’s path, or have I drifted into a place I never intended?
Drawing from Lamentations 3:40, he echoed the biblical call: “Let us search and try our ways and turn again to the Lord.” Recognizing one’s location — spiritually and morally — is the first step in the journey back to the Father.
Remember the Father’s House
Next came the prodigal’s recollection of what life was like back home. Even the lowest servant in his father’s house lived better than he now did in the pigpen. Pastor Bailey explained that remembering the goodness of God — His mercy, provision, and purpose — can serve as the spark that reignites a wayward heart.
Quoting Psalm 84:10, he reminded listeners: “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand [elsewhere]. I’d rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” This powerful contrast underscored the value of even the humblest place in God’s presence over the apparent comforts of a life lived outside His will.
Repentance Begins in the Mind
One of the most compelling parts of Pastor Bailey’s message was his explanation of repentance. He stressed that true repentance doesn’t begin with action — it begins with a change of mind. The son declared, “I will arise and go to my father” (Luke 15:18), even before he took a single step.
“Repentance starts in your mind,” Pastor Bailey said. “It’s a decision. It’s a realization that what I’m doing isn’t working, and that God has a better plan for me.” Referencing Romans 12:2, he emphasized the importance of renewing the mind: “Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Taking Action: Movement Toward the Father
It wasn’t until the son arose and returned that restoration took place. “Faith without works is dead,” Pastor Bailey reminded, quoting James 2:20. Good intentions and heartfelt remorse are not enough; the prodigal had to leave the pigpen and move toward his father.
This theme of action —
