Unity Project Week #13

Me and you as the prodigal son…the day after.

There are obviously many ways to express the compassion and love that God has for us, but perhaps my favorite is the prodigal son story.

I heard it afresh about a month ago. I can’t stop thinking about it. The vast and overwhelming and unconditional love that exists and how God desires to show it to us and how bull headed, stubborn and insecure we are.

So, simple recap: Luke 15:19-24

We screw up badly and then think,

“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. 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.’ ”

God sees us coming toward him and responds:

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 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.”

Amazing.

If you are reading this and you think you have done something that has separated you from goodness and from kindness and from God himself, then please prepare your speech just like the prodigal son did and simply start to walk toward Him, and he will run to you and cut off your “unworthiness speech” and lavish you with compassion and love and forgiveness. None of the “where have you been?”, “you have a lot of splainin’ to do!” that we tend to treat people with! Simply, joy and celebration that you are back.

What I want to leave you with is what would you do as the prodigal son the next morning? The ring is on the night stand, the robe is folded neatly…would you put them back on? Will you walk back out into the daily life of your dad’s kingdom and take up your role?

Imagine all the thoughts. “They don’t know everything I did, if they knew, He would change his mind”, “Did you see my brother, I can’t face him”, “How can I rule with any authority with this on my record?”

If you’ve taken Jesus’ lead and come back to God your father, then this is the decision in front of you: Will you put the robe and ring on this morning and walk out that door? Or will you wilt in guilt and shame or decide to leave and do your own thing again?

If you are ‘in that room’ then please put on the ring and robe and rule with your father’s same love and compassion.

If you are far off and in shame, then walk toward your father, I promise he will run toward you!

In love,

Damon