Have you ever walked away from a job, situation, challenge, relationship, marriage, or friendship and later realized you made a serious mistake. What you thought you wanted wasn’t really what you were searching for, and now the door is closed, there’s no going back. It hurts; and it marks you. Sometimes we are so caught up pursuing “something or things” that we move away from God. Maybe God was calling you to go one way, but you chose to follow your own way, and sidelined God. Maybe you have wandered far and feel unworthy to come back to Him.

Jesus tells the story of the lost son to emphasize God’s love, forgiveness, and grace. In the story, the son asks for his inheritance so he can get away from dad, chores, rules, etc. His father grants his request. We assume it was a very painful day for the father. He was disrespected, and must have felt used for his money, and abandoned by his son after years of loving and caring for him. The son quickly went through his money in the senseless pursuit of freedom and happiness. He landed himself a job feeding pigs. This certainly wasn’t what he was looking for. But, as Scripture tells us, he came to his senses and decided to go back to his father and repent with only a request to be treated as one of the hired servants.

His father was watching and waiting as he walked up the road. We don’t know if he was looking out every day hoping and praying his son would come home, but on this incredible day, he saw his son at a distance. The father ran to the son, hugged and kissed him, gave him a robe, sandals, and a ring and quickly planned a homecoming celebration. He received him back, as his child who had returned home. He didn’t love his son because he was good, he loved him because he was his. 

God doesn’t love you because of anything you can do to earn His love. He loves you because you are His. He is your Creator, your Heavenly Father, and He is ever-waiting with open arms to welcome His children home, no matter where they’ve been, what they’ve, done or how far they’ve wandered. 

On this day of celebration, I are thankful for God’s love that redeemed my sins through Jesus’ death and resurrection! If you have accepted His gift of salvation, your heart should be full of gratitude! If you haven’t accepted His gift, why not today? He’s waiting for you, looking, searching the horizon for you to come home. All you need to do is ask for His forgiveness.

Scriptures: Luke 22:54, Luke 15:1-2, 10-24, 28-32

Verses: (Luke 15:17-20) “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! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your servants.’ 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.”.

Questions: Is there anything you are searching for that you still haven’t found? If so, what? As a believer, explain how Jesus is all you need, but maybe not all that you want? How do you find peace in the struggle between needs and wants? How do you find peace between spiritual fulfillment/satisfaction and personal/worldly dissatisfaction? Are you patient with those who wander and make the same mistakes over and over?

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you buying my salvation! May I live each day with purpose and thankfulness. Allow my life to be a witness to others of the fulfillment that only you can give. In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.