Starving Christians

Luke wrote about the prodigal son, “When he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything” (Luke 15:14-16, NKJV).

I have seen this kind of starvation among Christians. They once had a marvelous testimony of grace and mercy; but because of sin, they became spiritual skeletons with no life whatsoever.

Luke wrote, “When he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’” (Luke 15:17-19).

The young prodigal had to admit, “I can’t handle these blessings after all. I’ve sinned against God and my family and squandered everything that's been given to me.”

Repentance is more than just turning around and going back to God. It is a full surrender of self-government, a return to God with this confession: “Lord, I’ve made a mess of my life, and now I come humbly to you, asking you to take over my life!” That’s when God begins to do a very special work of restoration.

When the son returned, he was fully restored in his father's house, not as a servant but as a son. He was willing to submit to his father and be under his governance. Moreover, he wanted intimacy with his father. He had lost all interest in the things of the world and was ready to do as his father commanded (see Luke 15:20-23). What a wonderful scene of total restoration!