Some folks think the prodigal son came to the “end of himself”... No.. it says “he came to himself” I believe the young man met his “real” self in his dilemma.. the true person that he was.. the privileged son of a wealthy man. At that point in his problem he realized he was not who he thought he was.. Nor was he who his friends, or even the world said he was.. His identity was not having a lot of money.. His identity was not being the center of the party.. but neither was he a swine attendant.. All of those “selfs” were pointless and had brought no fruit into his life.. But then he meets himself and says “I know you.. You are the rich mans son.. Your dad has lots of servants and even his servants have more than enough.. What are you doing here in this pig pen starving and dying? You need to go back home.. There is no lack in your Father’s house”.. So he said “ I will get up and go to my Father. He left behind any delusions of individual identity. He left the poverty that can completely consume private riches. He left a world of godless men and women who would “give him nothing”. He left the vain pursuit of adequate provision thru hard toilsome labor. He left a menial existence that offered no present or future reward. He went home to his Father. Did he go home with great faith? Did he go home with understanding what son ship meant? No.. But nevertheless he went home and found unimagined Grace. He was in fact the son of an extremely wealthy, generous and Godly man. All his needs henceforth would come from his Fathers bountiful supply. He no longer would be required to have his own riches to spend.. He now has access to his Father’s vast wealth. “All that I have is yours” (vs. 31) In fact the “party” he left home to find he found only when he returned back home.

When we realize that our identity has nothing to do with who we think we are, what we “do”, what we own, where we live, or what anyone says about us. Or when our attempts at establishing our life fails.. then we are ready to “get up and go to our Father” and be blessed beyond all our limited thinking. You and I are the privileged sons of God. All that He has is ours. He provides the best festive robe of honor.. (His perfect Righteousness) The Ring of His identity (the full Authority of God’s son).. The provision of transportation (to go to the whole world with the good news of the Fathers great Grace and Love.) (sandals in this case.. and a chariot in the case of Joseph ..Read Genesis 41:40-43)

All my life I have been “building up my toolbox” ..well guess what… I don’t even need my own “toolbox”.. As long as I am with Daddy He said I could use His tools any time I need them. Wow.. And he has got some cool stuff… way more than I could ever hope to own personally… and besides that I was getten tired of luggin my stuff around all the time only to find out what I usually needed I didn’t have anyway.. My identity is no longer “Who am I .. But Who is my Father..” I am my Father’s son.