INSPIRE Devotionals
With Emmanuel Afiawari
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Topic: LESSONS FROM THE PRODIGAL SON!
Memory Verse: "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God" - Romans 14:12 KJV
Bible Text: Luke 15:11-12 KJV
11. And he said, A certain man had two sons:
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.
INSPIRATION: The story of the Prodigal Son is one that leaves us with so many practical lessons to draw from. This series takes a deep dive into some of the salient lessons we may overlook, yet applicable to us, which have become the pitfall of many. Firstly, the Prodigal son wasn't trying to be rich with his request for his portion of inheritance. Rather, he was running away from accountability. We live in a time when being accountable has become a very big issue. Sadly, most people who are not accountable to anyone make a mess of everything in their hands.
Secondly, in his quest for independence, he faced the test of submission. He got fed up being submitted under his father's leadership. Sometimes, the arrogance of youth makes us think we could lead better than those leading us. So we criticise, rebel or scorn them, amplifying their shortcomings to scheme our way up the ladder. It's dangerous to get upstage after neglecting the process of preparation, only to make yourself a classic case in public disgrace! Oh! You don't want to witness what it means to fail openly when it ought to be your day of loudest ovation.
Life is a process, and it's not the stage that announces your arrival, but the many secret, behind the scene preparations. Jesus was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance (Luke 1: 80). David gained mastery throwing stones while tending the sheep; he killed the bear and the lion first before he could kill the giant, Goliath (1 Sam. 17: 34-37). Joseph went through a leadership moulding process through the pit, Potiphar's house, and the prison to develop character to serve; Moses grew up in Pharoah's house to learn. But Adam failed same way this Prodigal son did because they lacked the processes that make for greatness.
TODAY'S TAKE HOME:
Failure is your tuition fee to learning to do things right. Don't bypass processes that should shape your character. Embrace your processes, including failing forward!
PRAYER: Dear Lord, please deliver me from the arrogance that self-destruct. Teach me to be humble, submissive and accountable to enable me reach the heights ordained for me. May I not be in a hurry to arrive while neglecting the processes that could guide, keep and guarantee my stability in public glare, in Jesus name.
