As One Whom His Mother Comforts

Dear S_ and E_:

Your message by the devotional author “Prodigal God” is a very creative use of terms, indeed. Thank you. Like you, “prodigal” always has a negative connotation to me in our English language.

The etymology of the word “prodigal” is taken from Medieval Latin prōdigālis (wasteful). In turn, it originated from the Latin prōdigus (lavish), and from prōdigere (to squander). Undoubtably, the said devotion has the definition “lavish” as its topic for the day. It is cleverly appropriate of the author to use the word contrary to what we were taught on the word “prodigal”. The said devotion reminds me of an oxymoronic phrase Piper used in my 1997 devotional, “Christian Hedonism”.

By the way, I use a modified Cornell note taking method for my daily devotion. It has three sections:

📝Cornell Note
§ Telegraphic Sentence Note:
§ Thoughts, Words, or Questions:
§ Summary & Reflection:

As Peter writes in 2 Peter 3:1, I am to “stir you to wholesome thinking.” So then, to continue on this “prodigal” theme, let’s play a game. There are two parts to this game.

• What is the father first reaction when he sees the Prodigal Son coming home? How is this incident compare to Noah’s action when the dove returns to the ark?

• Rembrandt painted the “Prodigal Son”. In this painting the humbled and repentant son keels before the father. The father welcomes him back home. What do you see in this painting that appears so intriguing? (My hint: Isaiah 66:13)

L'