What does 'prodigal' mean? (Don't look it up yet!)

Before looking the word up,think about the word prodigal, and try to figure out what the meaning is!

When most people hear the word prodigal, they probably think of the story in the Bible of the prodigal son. Well, I was reading this exact story this past week, when again, something 'jumped off the page at me!' It said in Luke 15:13b and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

I had never really thought about the meaning of prodigal before but when I saw this it didn't sound right to me. When I really thought about it I guess I thought it meant, maybe, absent or returning home; something to that affect! What do you think it means?

Well when I looked it up here is what it said:
1. wastefully or recklessly extravagant
2. giving or yielding profusely
3. lavishly abundant

Interesting what the Bible will teach you!

Comfort!

I have been reading The Inspirational Study Bible -- General Editor Max Lucado. Today I read Luke 9. The devotion was about the question Jesus asked, "Who do you say I am?" and it goes on to say: "Who is Jesus to you? Does your answer depend on who is asking? On your feelings or circumstances? Worship your
Messiah, the Son of God." But the thing that 'jumped out at me' in this chapter is verses 30
and 31 "And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

I have read this many times but have totally, not seen the words, "of His decease". This says so much to me:Why did God send Moses and Elijah? Why did they talk of His decease? Die Jesus really need encouragement? Had he not already determined what he was going to do? Who is this passage really for?

There is an expression: God never gives you more than you can handle! Well Jesus could handle anything
but God still sent him someone to talk of his decease. Why? To comfort Him? and reassure Him?

I do know one thing God will and has sent someone to comfort us, the Holy Spirit. Is this passage really for us? So we will know that no matter how bad it gets there will always be someone to comfort us.