Today’s focus is on what we are called to do as we await Christ’s return. It’s not enough to simply believe in the promise of His coming; we are called to actively seek and save the lost, just as someone once reached out to us. The parable of the prodigal son, though familiar, holds profound meaning when understood in its original cultural context. In Jesus’s day, the story would have immediately brought to mind issues of inheritance, family honor, and the deep shame associated with a son’s rebellion. When the prodigal squandered everything and found himself destitute, he attached himself to a foreigner, only to be given the most degrading job imaginable for a Jew—feeding pigs. Even then, his decision to return home was not born out of true repentance, but out of desperation. He rehearsed a speech borrowed from Pharaoh in Exodus, hoping to secure a craftsman’s job and pay his way back, not to restore a relationship. Yet, before he could even finish his plea, the father ran to him—an act of deep humility and urgency, breaking social norms to shield his son from the condemnation of the community’s kezezah ceremony, which would have permanently cut him off. This act of the father reveals a powerful truth: grace always outruns condemnation. Grace comes before repentance, not after. The father’s embrace, the robe, the ring, and the sandals all declare the son’s restored identity before he can earn or deserve it. The story then shifts to the older brother, whose resentment exposes the danger of religious pride. He cannot rejoice in his brother’s restoration, feeling slighted despite never having lost anything. This is a warning to all who have walked faithfully for years: do not let self-righteousness blind you to the joy of the lost being found. The heart of God is for restoration, not exclusion.