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What? Are you sure about that? How can our heart become ‘prodigal?’ It would help to define the word ‘prodigal.’ In the common street language of the first century, ‘prodigal’ is defined as “lavishly abundant” or “wastefully extravagant.” In the parable of Jesus (Luke 15:11-31) commonly referred to as “the prodigal son,” there are two prodigals-the son and the father. The only one in this parable that wasn’t ‘prodigal,’ is the elder brother.

Can you get your heart and mind wrapped around this story? The implications are huge. The story begins with a display of lavish love, extravagant giving, and even what appears to be wasteful abundance poured out on a selfish young son. Father was “lavishly abundant” and “wastefully extravagant” in granting his son’s request for his portion of the inheritance.

His son went to a far country and wasted everything he had. Can you identify with this young man? Broke, but not quite broken- he ended up in a pig pin, slopping the hogs. I certainly went through a pig pin stage. Starving and trying to get some of the pig slop; “he came to his senses.” God has many “ways” to get us back “to our senses” and on track with His heart.  They come in many forms; trials, shaking, and discipline. It is at this place of humility, that ‘godly sorrow’ empowers change. God’s grace provides the impetus to get back on track.

The longer Grace ages, the sweeter it gets. But, conversely-the longer a graceless person lives, the sourer they get. The pig pin develops a prodigal heart within. The following quote will shed some light on the prodigal heart.

“A crisis of life is like a building that has fallen upon a man. When you hear his voice from under the rubble; remember, He is not the fallen building…just clear away the rubble, and then you can see and bring healing to the man,” Alan Smith.

Developing a lavish and extravagant prodigal heart is an ongoing work of grace. Clearing away the rubble takes being in safe and loving relationships. After the rubble is cleared, the true heart (the lavish prodigal heart) can be seen. The building can crumble around us, but the healing process will continue. In the midst of ‘the rubble clearing process’ we see ‘Father’ running toward us, with His arms open wide, ready to put His robe and ring on us. And He reaches into the depths of our heart, making our heart whole and calling our hearts into lavish, extravagant abundance. I am convinced that a ‘prodigal heart’ can receive the Father’s heart and passion for every nation, tribe and tongue.

In the grip of Papa’s lavish and extravagant Grace, Ron Ross