这种情况有时真的很难接受。你住在家里，得遵守家里所有的规矩，任何时候出门都要告诉父母你去哪儿。你还得去教会听讲道，唱那些你觉得很无聊的诗歌。你的父母甚至还想知道，你在手机和电脑上看些什么。有时候，你真想离家出走！
这就是耶稣的比喻中小儿子的感受。每天都是一样的安排，一样的规矩。他已经等不及要离开家了。于是有一天他来见父亲要求分得自己的家业。父亲并没有与他争论，而是把财产分给他让他走了。小儿子平生第一次感到自由了，却发现他渴望的自由至终使他成了一个奴隶。
当然，这个故事不只是针对叛逆的少年或离家的儿子，而是指任何不计后果地转离主、想以自己的方式生活的人。最近，一个二十几岁的亲戚告诉我，他们这一代的人不需要神，因为没有神也过得挺好。
如果你发觉自己在“远方” ，远离了神，现在就回来吧，因为祂在等待你！如果你已经回到神的身边，就为所有试图离开神的人祷告，好使他们也回转归向神。
天父，求祢帮助我们看到自己多么需要祢，如果我们远离了祢，求祢将我们带回。奉耶稣的名求，阿们。
路加福音 15:11-24
11耶稣又说：“一个人有两个儿子。
12小儿子对父亲说：‘父亲，请你把我应得的家业分给我。’他父亲就把产业分给他们。
13过了不多几日，小儿子就把他一切所有的都收拾起来，往远方去了。在那里任意放荡，浪费资财。
14既耗尽了一切所有的，又遇着那地方大遭饥荒，就穷苦起来。
15于是去投靠那地方的一个人；那人打发他到田里去放猪。
16他恨不得拿猪所吃的豆荚充饥，也没有人给他。
17他醒悟过来，就说：‘我父亲有多少的雇工，口粮有余，我倒在这里饿死吗？
18我要起来，到我父亲那里去，向他说：父亲！我得罪了天，又得罪了你；
19从今以后，我不配称为你的儿子，把我当作一个雇工吧！’
20于是起来，往他父亲那里去。相离还远，他父亲看见，就动了慈心，跑去抱着他的颈项，连连与他亲嘴。
21儿子说：‘父亲！我得罪了天，又得罪了你；从今以后，我不配称为你的儿子。’
22父亲却吩咐仆人说：‘把那上好的袍子快拿出来给他穿；把戒指戴在他指头上；把鞋穿在他脚上；
23把那肥牛犊牵来宰了，我们可以吃喝快乐；
24因为我这个儿子是死而复活，失而又得的。’他们就快乐起来。
"The younger son . . . set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living." — Luke 15:13
Sometimes it's really hard to take. You're living at home. You have to follow all the rules, and whenever you go out, you have to tell your parents where you are going. You're expected to go to church, listening to sermons and singing hymns that sound really boring to you. Your parents even want to know what you are watching on your smartphone or tablet. Sometimes you just want out!
That's how the younger son in Jesus' parable felt. Every day it was the same routine and the same rules. He could not wait to get away. So one day he went to his father and demanded his inheritance. The father did not argue but gave him the money and let him go. For the first time in his life the younger son felt free, only to discover that the freedom he craved would turn him into a slave.
Of course this story is not just about a rebellious teenager or a runaway son. It's an illustration of anyone who has turned their back on the Lord and wants to go their own way, regardless of the consequences. A twenty-something relative told me recently that his generation did not need God because they were doing just fine without him.
If you find yourself in a "distant country," away from God, come back to him, because he's waiting! And, if you have already come back to God, pray for all who are trying to live without the Lord, that they may turn to him too.
Father in heaven, help us to see how much we need you, and if we have drifted away, please bring us back. In Jesus, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
