It is for us to begin. If we take one step towards the Lord, he takes ten towards us — he who saw the prodigal son while he was at a distance, and had compassion and ran and embraced him.
~ Tito Colliander
我們要先開始。如果我們向神邁出一步，祂就會朝著我們走十步，正如那父親在遠處望見浪子，他便動了慈心，跑上前去擁抱兒子。
The difference between mercy and grace? Mercy gave the prodigal son a second chance. Grace gave him a feast. ~ Max Lucado
憐憫和恩典之間的區別是什麼呢？憐憫是給浪子第二次機會，恩典則是給浪子一場盛宴。
We want to sin without misery, just as the prodigal son wanted inheritance without the father. Sin always accompanies misery…. ~ R. C. Sproul
我們都希望犯罪不會帶來苦難，如同浪子想要繼承家產卻不要父親。 但罪總是伴隨著苦果。
Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.
直到我們迷失了，我們才開始了解自己。
Every parent is at some time the father of the unreturned prodigal, with nothing to do but keep his house open to hope. ~ John Ciardi
每個父母在某個時段，都像是未歸浪子的父親，只能在盼望中將家門敞開。
The pattern of the prodigal is: rebellion, ruin, repentance, reconciliation, restoration. ~ Louis Cole
浪子回頭的模式是：叛逆，苦難，悔改，復和，恢復。
For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.
主耶和華如此說：看哪，我必親自尋找我的羊，將牠們尋見。（結34:11）
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
你們中間誰有一百隻羊失去一隻，不把這九十九隻撇在曠野、去找那失去的羊，直到找著呢？。 （路15:4）
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……For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
兒子說：『父親！我得罪了天，又得罪了你；從今以後，我不配稱為你的兒子。』父親卻吩咐僕人說：『把那上好的袍子快拿出來給他穿 ……因為我這個兒子是死而復活，失而又得的。』他們就快樂起來。（路15:21-24）
As they pass through the Valley of Baka,they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
他們經過流淚谷，叫這谷變為泉源之地；並有秋雨之福蓋滿了全谷。（詩84:6）