Prodigals on Bar Street.

“…Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the Father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

 

-Luke 15:13-24

Father, give me your eyes to see these bar girls, lady boys, and johns with the eyes you see them with. Help me to see them as the son or daughter who has simply yet to turn to you. You are jealous for them. I know You see in them the potential You created them for, but right now from where I stand it looks as though the enemy has his grip on them. They have believed his lies and sunk into the slow death of lust, worthlessness, and emptiness.

Their view of love has been skewed. For the women, love is a monetary transaction. For the men, it’s a moment of fleeting satisfaction. For all, this perverted view of love is only bringing death. And you can see this in every person’s eyes. There’s nothing I hate more than looking into the numb eyes of a woman I was just laughing with as she leaves the bar hand in hand with a man whose name she doesn’t know, and who never even asked hers.

Father, give me Your eyes to see the people You created them to be. Let me look past the warped versions of themselves that lies have created. Let me see in them their God-created potential. Let me see in them the love you have for them. And let THEM see it.

Father, we have all been prodigals who have gone astray, but You are in the business of restoring people back to Yourself. Even when we were still a long way off, You had compassion for us and came running to us with outstretched arms. Father, give me your eyes and give me your heart for these prodigals who have yet to turn to you.

*(My team and I are working in ChiangMai, Thailand this month. In the afternoons I am working with a ministry for at-risk and abused children, and then my team and I spend the evenings building relationships with the women and men in the bars. We hear their stories, love on them, and give them options for another life.)