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The Parable of the Lost Son is one of the best-known stories Jesus told. Through a powerful and moving father-son metaphor, we are given a picture of the heavenly Father's unconditional love for his lost and wayward children. And it serves as the capstone of the two "Lost" parables (Luke 15:3-9) that precede it. Along with the metaphorical meaning, though, this story offers dads a glimpse into how they should strive to treat their own children.

Luke 15:11-31

1. 1. As you read the parable, look for qualities of a loving father. Jot down at least three of those qualities.
   
2. 2. What does this parable say to dads with a naughty four-year-old? What does it say to dads with a rebellious teen or early 20-something?
   
3. 3. What was the older brother's complaint? Do you experience times when your "good kid" accuses you of letting the "bad kid" off easy? How do you respond?
   
4. 4. Think about ways you could demonstrate one or more of the qualities on your "loving father" list to each of your children this coming week.

Reflect on your heavenly Father's unconditional love for you; ask God to help you, as much as is humanly possible, to model his unconditional love to each of your children.

Luke 15:11-31

11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: "A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, 'I want my share of your estate now before you die.' So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.

13 "A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

17 "When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, 'At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, "Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant."'

20 "So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.'

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Prayer for the Week

Heavenly Father, show me how to truly care about the details of my children's lives; help me to be patient with their immaturity; guide me as I seek to discipline in God-honoring ways; help me to always love them unconditionally.

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