“The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am
no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 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”
The
prodigal son had rehearsed his speech… he believed his actions had forfeited
any right to be considered a family member, so he was going home to simply try
to get a job.
While that
sounds humble…it is illogical. The flaw in his logic was to believe he could do
something, to lose the thing he had done nothing to gain…his sonship.
He had
forgotten that his actions could not impact his lineage. The boy had focused on
his depraved condition…but the Father as always, had focused on his position as
His son.
So, when
the prodigal began his speech, the father interrupted him and commanded that his
son be clothed and treated in a way worthy of his position as child of the
father.
This is
our story.
We have
all believed that somehow, we have forfeited our sonship because we fail.
We come to
God guarded, ready to negotiate some lesser relationship because we have sinned
….and in the middle of our speech God interrupts us… He says bring the robe and
a ring…start preparations for the celebration…my child is back, and my heart is
overjoyed at his return.
When the
son comes home, the father in this story forgives his failures…but our story
has one more element…The Cross.
Our Father
not only forgives but removes our failures. He covers them and remembers them
no more…it is as though they never happened.
The “great
lie” is that God forgives you, but He’s mad about it…. The truth is He not only
forgives you, but covers, removes, and forgets your sin. He gives you His holiness,
so your relationship with Him will be without blemish.
God is
watching…just waiting for you to turn around. He will run to meet you.
Not with a
list of failures, but with a robe and a ring worthy of your position as His
son. Stop running the wrong direction
and return to your Father who has already paid your debts and erased your
failures.
He is not
interested in your speech…He’s interested in your heart. Just, turn around and come home.
"No matter how far wrong you've gone,
you can always turn around."
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
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