The story of the prodigal son moves my heart to delve into new depths of God's limitless grace.

I find myself in every facet of Jesus' words in this story.

I identify with the younger son's rebellion.

I identify with the older son's judgment and resentment.

I identify with the experience of the father's compassion and love.

Today, we begin a week-long focus on this life-giving and perception-shattering story of Jesus,

the story of the prodigal son.

May God draw you even closer to him this week and teach you of his redemptive and life-changing love.

Welcome to the First 15 podcast. Our scripture for today comes from John 1, verse 6.

Scripture says,

And from His fullness, we have all received grace upon grace.

No single passage of scripture has impacted my life in greater ways than Jesus' parable

of the prodigal son.

I find myself in every facet of this story.

I see my own sin and pride in the foolishness of the Son to run from the Father. I see the despair and destitution that results from my own sin

as the Son longs for the slop he feeds to pigs.

I see my desperate need for forgiveness, grace, and restoration in the Son's return.

And more than anything, I see the unfathomable grace

of my heavenly father, as the father in the story

runs out to embrace his disobedient and wayward child.

Rather than beginning this week on the prodigal son

with my thoughts on this story,

...