November 1 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading:

Luke 15:1-13

¹Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
²And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
³And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
⁴What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
⁵And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
⁶And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
⁷I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
⁸Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
⁹And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
¹⁰Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
¹¹And he said, A certain man had two sons:
¹²And 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.
¹³And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

Devotional:

One of the most difficult times in the life of parents is the time when their son or daughter leaves home. It is difficult when this is an actual geographic departing. The son (or daughter) may even take to the road, having no real plan or destination. He may move into an apartment by himself or into a house with friends. He may go away to college or into the military service. Or he may leave to get married. Whatever the case, this represents a breach in the close relationship which has been maintained between home and child through many years.

But the parent realizes, if he is a thinking person, that this breach is a part of life as God designed it. His son is growing up and becoming an independent human being. The parent adjusts to the departure and attempts to rearrange his life style.

The kind of departure that is most difficult to accept is the ideological, when the child departs from the way of thinking and living of his family. He may do this and not even leave home. But he is gone.

The amazing thing about the father in this parable is his attitude at such a time. He respects the decision of the departing son. He gives him what he asks for. Without rancor he says goodbye. His attitude at the departure leaves the way open for the return!

Jesus is telling us about the heavenly Father, but there is a lesson, too, for us in our own dealings with our family. How needful is this lesson for parents who have ahead of them this difficult experience of the departure of a son or daughter! We should pray for a gentle spirit, a calm understanding of the problems of our day. This young person has his whole life ahead of him. Sometimes he is given strength to follow God's way readily. Sometimes he cannot just follow in our way without exploring the alternatives. When he goes we do not know what to expect. We can do nothing else but let him go, being sure to leave the door ajar for his return!