[Luke 15, Proverbs 21]

H – Luke 15:17, “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!”

E – A Grief that Produces Repentance. 

The pig pen is no place to be. It’s a place of desperation to fill a void (v.14). It’s a place of isolation away from true potential and purpose (v.16). But, the pig pen is where we will find ourselves when we turn inward, live selfishly with the ‘give me’ attitude (v.12), and squander away what we’ve been called to steward (v.13).  

It doesn’t take much time to be in need and want. 

It’s striking that this young son found himself in a pig pen, feeding the pigs, desiring to eat what the pigs were eating. Jews did not associate with pigs. Sheep, Yes! Pigs, No! Pigs were deemed as unholy and Jews didn’t even want to touch them. Yet, to fill a void, this son was willing to do what ever it took. It could be because he thought this would be an easy way out. It could have been because out of desperation he really didn’t care about the consequences. It could have been because he didn’t see any other options. 

Regardless, He Came To Himself. He came to his senses. 

Notice what he came to his senses to. 1) His sin against Heaven, 2) His sin before his father. 

This is a Hebrew/Aramaic expression for “repented.”This refers not only to a mental process that causes him to think more clearly about his situation but also to a moral renewal involving repentance. Remember this is a parable. Look at the progression and continuation of the parables in Luke 15 (v.17, 10) and the son’s confessions (v.18, 21). They all have to do with the need for repentance. 

This brings my mind to 2 Corinthians 7:10, “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”

The son’s godly grief produced a repentance that led to his return and the father’s embrace. He turned away from perishing. If I was a betting man I would bet he didn’t regret his decision to leave the pig pen and go home. 

A – Everyday should be a day of coming to my senses, placing my life under His Lordship, and allow repentance to bear godly fruit in my life. 

R – Lord God, thank you for rescuing me. Thank you for embracing me and allowing me to experience the joy of salvation, forgiveness, and the God of countless 2nd chances. Lord, I praise you for who you are. 

In Jesus Name!