“I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,” Luke 15:18
There is an old chorus on my mind this morning, as I was thinking about the choices:
Back to my Father and home,
Back to my Father and home
I will arise and go
Back to my Father and home.
Most of us are familiar with the story Jesus told about the Prodigal Son. This young man made wrong choices in his life. He desired he wanted to live his own life, so he asked his father to give him his inheritance early. With his pockets filled with money, he forsook his family home and ventured out into the world. At first, he had lots of friends and was enjoying life until his money ran out and his friends deserted him. He found himself feeding pigs, so hungry that he was willing to eat their food.
At this low point in his life, he remembered what life had been like in his father’s house and made a wise choice to return. His father was waiting with open arms to receive him and restore him to his place in the family.
This story contains lessons for all of us:
- When we desire the things of this world and let them become more important than our relationship with Christ, we may find ourselves “in a far country.”
- Each choice we make takes us farther away.
- It is never too late to turn back. As we realize where we are, the first step is to repent and ask God to forgive us.
- The Father is waiting with open arms, more than willing to forgive and restore our relationship with Him.
- The Father welcomes us back and provides everything we need: the robe of righteousness, the ring of reconciliation, the kiss of love, the shoes of a holy walk, and the feast of fellowship.
Perhaps someone reading this is at a crossroads today, considering walking away from your relationship with the Lord. You may think that living for the Lord is too hard, and it is not worth the price. Take some time to read this story of the Prodigal Son and pray this prayer that David prayed:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” Psalm 51:10-12
Devotion by Anne Johnston
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