* by verses referenced at the bottom of the page Luke 15:11-13 11 Then He said: "A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me." So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal iving. Do you believe that it was the will of this man's father for him to run off to another country and spend all of his inheritance on "prodigal" living? No. I believe that his father wanted the best for him. I am sure that He worked his whole life to be able to leave a valuable inheritance to his sons. Do you think that he knew ahead of time that his son would waste his money? Most likely, he did. As we raise our children, we learn about their attitudes and habits toward money and possessions. We know who saves their allowance, and who blows it the minute they get the chance. But it doesn't stop us from giving it to them, because they have to learn to make their own choices, and learn from their own mistakes. In the same way, God sometimes gives us things that we ask for, even though He knows that we won't apply it wisely. But, just because He knows what we are going to do, doesn't make it His will for us to do it. He stands back with loving tears in His eyes and lets us make our own choices. Then, He waits for us to return to His open arms of compassion. He knows that when we find our way back, we will be in a worse state than when we left. However, it is not until we have come to ourselves (vs 17*), that we are able to appreciate the sacrifices that were made for us. We also begin to understand that we are not worthy of those sacrifices (vs 18-19*), but that they were made out of God's unconditional love. Have you come to yourself? Do you know that God knows about all of your trials, heartaches, and mistakes? He is still waiting for you to return to Him. All He wants to do is love you, unconditionally. The father in the parable was so excited for his son to return home, that he didn't even let him finish the speech that he was prepared to make (vs 19, 21-24). This describes how excited God is about your homecoming. It doesn't matter where you've been, or how long it has taken you. He misses you, and He will greet you as if you never left His side. Will you come home? I hope you enjoyed reading the word of God in a new light. Have a Happy Wednesday! God Bless, Min. Tommy & Sis. Shatika Gray Scripture References: Luke 15:14-24 NKJV 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."' 20 "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. |
| Unconditional Love May 5, 2004 |