Compassion for the Prodigals

We all have some areas of mistrust we need to repent of. Pain springs from the events of our childhood and manifests throughout our life. For some it is defining and is more obvious to others. We don’t put a label on it but many exhibit the spirit and attitude of an orphan.

Early manifestations are evident when someone is caught taking something from others that gives them some sense of identity. They build an alter-ego (a second self). All kids do this from time to time but some covertly make this their chief passion.

These children carry a sense of being deprived or rejected. They consistently self-blame and become competitive about everything. They want it ALL! Because they feel they are missing out if they don’t get it. They can develop into raging control freaks or emotional manipulators.

Some simply never grow up. They lock onto this new projection of themselves that they find gets them what they want and live a self-centred life never able to give (or trust) themselves fully to any cause or even a marriage. They feel unloved and a deep need to prove their worth. Often rebelling and living a wasteful life, they can come to their senses and make a dramatic change sometimes years later. They are the ‘prodigals.’ But why do they become this way especially if they have grown up with contented siblings and/or excellent parents? 

Some moment of perceived abandonment or betrayal of trust is taken into their spirit and they become an Orphan. This happens to many children in circumstances of poverty and it becomes their identity, but it can happen in good homes also. The ‘evil-one’ magnifies the effect in a plan to discredit the Lord. He invented the term ‘identity theft’ and is the master of it.

The Bibles answer is 'Sonship.' It is this privilege that the enemy is trying to plunder from us. Jesus faced this test the moment the enemy could get him at a vulnerable point:  Matt 4:3-9 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God…” But go back a few verses.. Matt 3:17 “A voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."  Jesus was already affirmed as a son, but the Devil tested him on this point immediately. We too are affirmed as ‘sons’ Romans 8:14-17 “because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”  Embrace it and live it.