The prodigal son (5) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

The father said to his servants, Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. And they began to be merry.
Luke 15:22-24

The prodigal son (5)
God's grace surpasses all our expectations. When we turn to Him, He provides "the best robe": He no longer sees us as we are by nature, but "in Christ", i.e. in the beauty and perfection of His beloved Son (cf. Ephesians 1:6; Isaiah 61:10). He gives us a "ring", the sign of our new, permanent relationship with Him, and "sandals" for our walk to please Him as sons. One of the remarkable features of God's grace is: He accepts us as we are, but does not leave us in that miserable state.

It was a custom for wealthier citizens in Israel to keep a fatted calf for special guests. This one was now slaughtered through joy over the son's return home. "Let us eat and be merry". The prodigal had been found and could now enjoy fellowship and share the father's pleasure.

It was the son's sinful intent that had enticed him away from his father. Now that he had recognised his guilt and confessed it; his conscience was free. He could look his father in the face and enjoy fellowship with him. God's wish is to maintain such fellowship with all who were spiritually dead and are now "alive again", who were lost and have been found. Such fellowship brings the Christian joy that is felt intensely; it begins on earth and will never end in eternity.

(to be continued on Thursday)

Today's reading: Jeremiah 51:34-64 · Romans 15:23-33