I heard such an amazing presentation of the Prodigal Son at church yesterday! (If you don’t know this story, I’d recommend reading it. And even you’ve heard it a thousand times, I’d suggest re-familiarizing yourself with it before going on. It can be found in Luke 15:11-32.)
Whichever prodigal son you resemble (say what?!), the good news is that the Father comes running towards you!
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10, The New International Version).
Most of us resemble the younger son at some point in our lives: tangled up in all the pleasures the world has to offer to the point that we find ourselves sinking in pig slop. And many of us⚊even after deciding to follow Jesus⚊resemble the older brother: doing all the right things for the wrong reasons because we forget where true righteousness resides. (I’ll give you a clue: it’s not in self.)
But our heavenly Father has compassion on us! He runs to embrace us, no matter how much we stink, and won’t hear our apology. “We’re going to feast! We’re going to have a wonderful time!” he shouts.
And when we want grace to apply only to the (self) righteous (namely, us), He reminds us that His righteousness is enough for ALL. It cannot be earned nor lost. Only received and savored.
Lost or Found?
So here’s a hard question on this day after Valentines: Have you forgotten your first love? Morever, do you long after Jesus the way you long after the most satisfying relationships in your life?
Who else but our triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit):
• Put the breath in your lungs (and continues to do so every day)?
• Has good plans for your life⚊and a purpose for it, too?
• Died a criminal’s death with your salvation in mind?
• Has forgiven you of your sins?
• Has the power to restore your life?
• Loves you even when you mess up?
• Longs to spend time with you?
• Never tires of you?
• Is preparing a custom-designed-with-you-in-mind home for you?
• Will see you safely home?
“What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it⚊we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to” (1 John 3:1, The Message).
What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God!
1 John 3:1, The Message
I pray you want to know Him better, whether you’ve never really given Jesus a second thought or have walked with Him your entire life. He’s so BIG we can never fully know Him or his love in this lifetime! That’s why He made a way for us to be with Him in eternity (by taking on our sins, which separate us from the Father and demand recompense). It’s really amazing when you stop to think about it⚊and I hope you do.
What has the Holy Spirit been speaking to your heart lately? Is it an invitation to know and follow Him? Or is it a nudge that you are missing out on something, the abundant life He came to give you? Heaven isn’t this someday far off place, my friends! It begins the moment we yield our lives to Jesus and allow his sanctifying power to work in us and through us.
If you’re curious to know more about either of these things, I’d love to talk with you! Respond in the Comments or PM me through my Facebook page @jamielinnbrummel.
I remain ever a servant to my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ and those yet to receive a faith as precious as ours.
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