Jesus, in His time of ministry on the earth delivered God’s Word and character in parables as well as His actions. One that I consider to be powerful is the Parable of the lost son. The son who decided to go his own way and then came to regret that decision. I think a large majority of us fit the son is His parable. I think the parable about the prodigal son is probably my favorite. That parable fits me perfectly. It delivers the best example of our leaving the Lord and how He welcomes us back.
LUKE 15
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.
12The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “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.
14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’
20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “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.
23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.
24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
That is the perfect example of God’s love and forgiveness He has for each of us. It doesn’t matter that we have rejected Him and His Word in the past, it only matters that we have turned to Him for forgiveness. He in turn does not chastise us for our mistakes and sins, He openly forgives them and embraces His children with love. The Lord God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the shedding of His blood, washes each person clean.
We, once having accepted Christ are free of our sin debt. Those sins can never again condemn us. We are righteous before the eyes of God through His grace and not of our own atonement or redemptive actions or rites. Only through Christ can we have salvation and forgiveness. This was an act of God so great it is almost missed when one thinks of it. Sin no longer has a hold on the ones saved by Christ.
We no longer have to make sacrifices for sin. Nor do we have to see a priest or any other person to ask or receive forgiveness. Only Jesus can forgive and save us. He is truly the only way. As He said, He is the way the truth and the life. The only requirement the Lord has is that we accept His sacrifice for our sins. Just let that sink in for a minute. The Lord God Himself provided the sacrifice for our sins. Nothing we have done on our own could provide the way to forgiveness, only through the act of belief, could we be saved. This sounds very simple and too simple to be true. That is the most amazing part to me, is, that it is so easy. All it takes is belief in His Word, faith in His Word, and the acceptance that God does not lie. The promises He makes in His Holy Word are to be believed and claimed. They are for all His children to claim as they are now in His family. We have come home as in the parable. The Lord will hold nothing back from His children. His goodness and grace is there for all.
We have His commandments to love and how to treat each other. This applies to all we know and meet. The Lord did not say for us to love only Christians, how well do you think that would work? We would not have so many Christians if we loved only Christians. There would be no display of God’s love for all if we only showed love and forgiveness to Christians. We must do as He did, love everyone. When reading in the gospels of the healings and miracles of God through Christ Jesus, He openly provided for all who asked. He knew they asked for healing because they believed in Him and God. Remember, Jesus once told a person He healed that, “your faith has made you whole”.
We as Christians do live in faith. We believe without seeing, we take God’s Word as fact and require no proof. We trust in Him to do all He says He will in our lives. That is why we pray. That is why we worship the only true God. We worship God in our actions and speech. We act according to His Holy guidance and trust He will reward us according to His promises. We live in a new and wonderful way. We do not stumble in the darkness of sin anymore. Our lives are well lit by the light of Jesus Christ. We are bearers of this light so all can see who we are. We live the way Jesus taught and we do not judge. We are saved and we desire the same thing the disciples did, to spread the true Word to anyone who will accept it.
Praise God for His love and patience, for through those we were given our chance at salvation. Through His love and patience, many others will be saved as well. Praise God for His Son who gave Himself for our sins. To release us from the bondage and penalty of sin. Through Him we have everlasting salvation and will see the glory of God. We will be saved and have the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We have been washed clean by His Holy blood. Forget who we once were and live Holy in the new person we have become.
May the Lord of peace bring to you peace, prosperity, and His protection in this sinful world. May He always guide you and counsel you through the Holy Spirit and His word. Remember, He never leaves your side, He is always present and willing to forgive. The Lord God is with you every second you live. Nothing is hidden from Him, not our actions or thoughts. So when we confess our failures, our sins, He already knows what we are confessing and is willing to forgive. If anyone has not come to Christ yet and should read this, I would ask you why not? Let the Lord God through Jesus cleanse you and forgive your sin transgression. Be saved by the forgiving blood of Jesus and walk in His light. Yes, your sins will be on display for you to see, but the Lord will remove them and you will be righteous in His eyes.
Luke 15:4 4 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'
7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
We are the prodigal children of God. The Lord in His great mercy and grace has chosen to provide the ultimate sacrifice for all who come to Him. This great deed allows each person the opportunity to be completely forgiven and saved.
Amen