Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha
The Prodigal Son and His Father – Luke
Chapter 15 verses 11 to 32
The prodigal son is an interesting case study of some
mothers do have them! Generally, sons and daughters and whoever inherits after
the demise of their parents or benefactors. But the prodigal son chose to have
his inheritance even when his father was still alive. He went to his father and
requested for his inheritance. His father obliged him and not quite long he
lost everything to riotous living and began to live in penury. Close to eating
pods - what he served to pigs as their meal, he did a rethink. He had lived
wrongly and had wronged his father. He did a u-turn and returned home.
Fortunately for him, his father lovingly accepted him back. The relationship
between father and son was restored through repentance, forgiveness and
acceptance.
Realization and acknowledgement of sin, repentance,
forgiveness and acceptance culminate in the healing process and restoration of
relationships. Relationships are very central to God. That explains why the
Bible gives a number of instances of relationships that went awry and how God
intervened and the relationships were restored. Beginning with Adam and Eve,
through Sarah and Hagar, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers, the prodigal
son and his father, John Mark and the
Apostle Paul, the Apostles Paul and Peter, God and us, the people of Israel,
David. Manasseh.
To ensure the restoration of relationships, God gave believers
principles for managing relationships. They are in the Bible. Forgiveness is one
of them and very key – we are to forgive as many times as people hurt us, sin
against us; we are also to ask forgiveness of other people when we offend them;
we are to acknowledge our sins and repent of them, we are to tolerate one
another in love, speak up and rebuke one another in love rather than bottle up
and live in anger, resentment, bitterness and unforgiveness. We are to share
information that transforms rather than gossip and we are to pray for one
another rather than project ill will. That way, we will have wholesome
individuals, communities and nations.
Relationships between nations can be healed. The
relationship between Israel and the Gibeonites that degenerated into
bloodletting in the days of King Saul was healed and restored in the days of
David. Please see 2nd Samuel
Chapter 21 verses 1 to 14. When nations breach covenants of peace entered into,
there is usually a rift in the nations that requires healing through
forgiveness and in some extreme cases like that of the Gibeonites, restitution.
Please see Joshua Chapters 9 and 10.
The frosty relationship between Syria and Israel in
the days of Elisha was restored. The Syrians had come to raid Israel as usual.
But God used Elisha to abort the raid. How? The raiders suffered temporary
blindness and were taken to the King’s palace. Rather than have the raiders
killed as should be the case, their lives were not only spared but they were
also entertained lavishly. Thereafter, they never came to raid Israel again.
Please see 2nd Kings Chapter 6 verses 1 to 23.
Isaac lived happily with the Philistines in Gerar in
the days of Abimelech until he became very prosperous and envy set in. The Philistines
sent him away and Isaac left them But after a while, the Philistines realized
that they had been unfair in sending Isaac away. So they went in search of Isaac
and asked for restoration of relationship. Both parties forgave each other and
the relationship between them was restored. Please see Genesis Chapter 26 for
details.
Beloved, forgiveness is integral to restoration of
relationships in the healing of nations. Individuals, families and communities
make up nations and when the relationships between these people are not healed
through forgiveness, there can be no true healing in the nations. Resentment,
bitterness, hate, envy, jealousies, and unforgiveness breed deep seated anger
that always works against the righteousness of God. Therefore, let go of whatever
bitterness is in your spirit against anyone so that the healing streams of God
will flow into your relationships and families in the mighty name of Jesus
Christ. Shalom.
Email: olivesfamily@yahoo.com
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