One of the interesting things regarding the parable of the Prodigal Son, or more accurately "the Loving Father", is the fact that the son was part of the family before he left home. So, is the direction of parable toward the believer who goes astray and gives hope to the wayfarer? Or is it as usually taught, the sinner who never was part of the family?

The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness where He was confronted by the devil. Some render this merely a psychological exercise for Jesus, but the plain reading the text does not support that position. Jesus was tempted by the devil not by Himself. Jesus never had a problem of accepting the reality of satan.

Upon the heals of the wilderness encounter, Jesus is led by the Spirit to begin His ministry in Galilee where in enters the synagogue at Nazareth. There He reads Isaiah 62:1,2 and applies it to himself as the fulfillment of the prophecy.

¹⁸‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, ¹⁹to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour’ (Luke 4).

Jesus knew his purpose and mission in life. In this inauguration of his ministry he clearly states why his Father sent him into the world. The rest of his earthly ministry would be the fulfillment of the divine design of him. All of this culminating in the cross.

If Jesus conformed to the plans that God had for him, how much more I need to open myself up to his divine plan and sacrifice my plans for his.

When I was a child my parents often visited my Grandparents in a small town about 20 miles from our home. There was a standing rule established by my grandparents: If you visit us on Sundays come before church and attend with us, come during church and wait for us to return from church, or wait until church is over. I remember as child attending church with my parents and grandparents in their small, village church...it was the "law"!

This single act of my grandparents has stayed with me throughout the years. Their faith was the most important possession in their lives and they made it clear to everyone else that it was so! Their attitude permeated through my parents generation and, to me. Attendance at church, though not legalistically dictated, is essential for me. As the writer of Hebrews posed it: ²⁴²⁵

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:23-25 nrs).

Maybe you can answer some of my questions about the Bible. I have been to so many different churches as I travel around that I get confused. For example, is it wrong to pray to God. I thought when I learned there was a God and started going to the Seventh Day Adventist Church there in my hometown, that we prayed to God, but now people say to pray to Jesus?

As I look at this question, a number of thoughts run through my mind on the matter of praying. The first is motivation. God does not look on our outward appearance/performance as much as our inner motivation. If we are merely going through the words because they are written and/or expected, then we are in the wrong ballpark. Jesus had issues with the people who were "religious" and merely performing. He chided the people who prayed in public to show off their "spirituality". In similar manner he castigated the pharisees who made a show of their religiosity. God looks on the heart of the person and not the outward appearance.

Secondly, Jesus gives us a model prayer. When the disciples had questions about praying ("Teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1), "When you pray, say: 'Father (or Our Father)....'") I think the thing that Jesus is driving home to us is that prayer is relational. It is between a Father/child. We are able to access God as we would be able to access a loving father. [I know that some people have not experienced good family relationships, but in our hearts we know what a father should be like.]

God desires to have a relationship with us. He desires that we know him (not about Him), that we come before Him in prayer--just talking it over with Him, and that we listen to what He has to say to us through His Word, the Bible.

“...in Jesus’ name”. To me, this is a recognition that as a beliver our salvation is in and through Jesus. He is the one who secured our salvation, he is the one who sustains us; he is the one who is our hope. 1 Timothy 2:5 tells us that there is ONE MEDIATOR between God and mankind and that is Jesus.

More importantly is the instruction of Jesus. It is shortly before his crucifixion and he is giving to his disciples his “last will and testament” (John 13-17). John emphasizes a number of times that Jesus told his disciples to pray in his name:

I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me* for anything, I will do it (John 14:13, 14).

You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name (John 15:16).

On that day you will ask nothing of me.* Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.* Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete (John 16:23, 24). ‘I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father. On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. (John 16:25, 26).