Not Soft; Dependant

Luke 15:3 KJV

And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

It is not difficult to see that each of the three parables is intended to teach the same truth; the value of a soul. 

The first leaves the sheep to find the one who is lost

The second searches diligently until she finds her lost coin

The third gives us the most detail

but in this case the father does not go, he does not search; he gives his son his demands, he allows his son to go and then he keeps his eye open for his son's return. 

This could be designed to demonstrate three styles of evangelism. It could also speak to the three different types of lost men and the means of reaching them. Or it could be that the third is an explanation of the earlier two. 

The parable of the prodigal is a magnificent expression of living in dependence upon the Lord. This man is not soft. He is accused of that by his firstborn son, but it is not true. He is not soft; he is trusting. He is reliant upon the Heavenly Father. Instead of taking matters into his own hands, he bows to the rebellious nature of his son and leaves him to learn what rot awaits in the world of sinfulness. 

And the boy came home

• Penniless
• Filthy

But

• Humbled and
• Repentant 

We ought to search for the lost. We ought to be diligent about it.

But we must be dependent upon the Lord. Only then will we truly see souls come to the Lord with hearts surrendered to him.