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This Week’s Devotional Topic
WHEN GOD RAN
Jesus spoke an important message to us, found in Luke 15. We see a very real description of God’s response to us when we repent. Listen to the Parable of the Prodigal Son…when God ran….
Luke 15:11 – 24 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”‘ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Try to imagine the heart of the Father seeing his son coming. It is implied by the fact that he saw him coming from afar that He was very likely watching, anticipating his return, that his son would repent of his sins and come back home. And we get a pretty good glimpse into the heart and mind of the son as he thought to himself, there is no way dad will forgive me and maybe, just maybe, he would allow me to come back as a servant to the family.
We need to respond to this Parable with two very important actions. First, recognize the sin in your life and deal with it, repent. If you are not yet a believer, then that is where your relationship with God needs to start. And if you are a Christian, then confess your sins, knowing that Christ has paid the price, taken on Himself the penalty. Praise Him for that fact and move on. Whether you are a believer or not yet accepted His gift of Salvation, the fact is that nothing can separate you from God’s love.
Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God is faithful and just to forgive us.
I John 1:8,9 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Romans 5:6-11 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
The second response we should take to this Parable is that you and I MUST forgive one another….
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
And again in…
Colossians 3:10-13 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us. Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
It is never to late to repent and turn back to God. As our loving Father, he will run to you when He sees you coming.
This week’s Scripture:
Luke 15:11 – 24; Romans 5:6-11; 8:35-39; I John 1:8,9; Colossians 3:10-13 and Ephesians 4:32
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