Prodigal, what does it really mean?
I’ve pondered long over this English word and its meaning for a number of days now. Knowing how the word is most often used I felt sure I knew the definition. So, without looking it up in a dictionary, I wrote out my own definition of the word prodigal.
From my journal: one who has wandered far from home; one who set out to have his/her own way leaving their upbringing behind; taking one’s belongings and setting out alone.
Wanting to be accurate, however, I decided to consult the Merriam-Webster online dictionary. Maybe you already know, but I was a bit taken back by the true and actual definition of the word.
prodigal: characterized by profuse or wasteful expenditure: lavish; recklessly spendthrift; yielding abundantly: luxuriant. synonyms: extravagant, profligate, spendthrift, squandering, thriftless, unthrifty, and wasteful.
My eyes locked onto the word {lavish} and my heart skipped a beat. Instantly I was reminded of the Lord’s tenderness toward me a few years back as He chose {lavish} to be my one-word focus for that particular year. I wondered then if the word was actually found in scripture and was delighted to find this precious truth nugget in God’s Word.
In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:7-8 niv
During that year, as I prayed and asked Holy Spirit to be my teacher regarding His idea of lavish, Holy Spirit placed in my heart an acronym for the word based on the truth of our Christ bought identity found in Ephesians 1:1-13.
Loved
Accepted
Victorious
Innocent
Secure
Holy
For the entire year, and still to this very day, the Lord continually reminds me of His lavish grace for me, and the true identity He has given me as an adopted daughter purchased by the blood and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I myself am the prodigal daughter of the good King. Additionally, I am the prodigal mother of prodigal sons for whom I pray continuously. With gratitude and anticipation, I often ask Father for their return home and into their true identity as sons of God, knowing He did this very thing for me.
Today though, I continue to ponder the word prodigal with even greater enthusiasm because of the word’s true meaning. Instead of a focus on leaving or turning away, the true focus of the word is extravagant spending and luxurious gifting. Who but God is the epitome of extravagance in sending His own Son to be the perfect Sacrificial Lamb in our place?
It is my honor to be a guest writer with Beloved Prodigal today. Please click here to finish reading my story of Lavish Grace & Steadfast Love with the Beloved Prodigal community of Jesus followers and prayer warriors on behalf of many prodigals.
“Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:6-8
