“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (relief) Matthew 11:28
“I’ll come back to God when I’ve got my act together,” said one young girl. “Right now I’m too messed up.”
But why wait?
The Father is waiting for you to come back.
Jesus told a beautiful story to illustrate this: the story of the prodigal son.
The prodigal son squandered his inheritance money in wild living. Eventually he landed in a pig sty, without friends and desperately hungry. One day he said to himself, “How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger. I will arise and go to my father and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants” (Luke 15:17).
So he returned home. 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 (Luke 15:20).
The boy starts his speech of apology but the Father doesn’t let him finish it. Instead, he interrupts with orders to the servants to bring the best clothes, a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. A joyous celebration follows.
When they met in embrace, the son’s thoughts were on “How can I make this right again?” But the Father’s thoughts were on relationship: “My son has come home! Our relationship is restored.” The father’s complete forgiveness is by grace, not something the son has to earn.
This is how God receives us when we come in true repentance. With forgiveness. With joy.
When we do come back, God doesn’t just forgive us; He dresses us up with a new identity, He clothes us in a rob of righteousness. He shows us we are loved and that we belong.
Imagine! The Creator and Sustainer of the universe loves and values us that much.
Do you need to come “home” to God? Do it now. Come just as you are. He will receive you.
By Helen Lescheid
Used by Permission
To read more of Helen’s writings go to http://www.helenlescheid.com
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Further Reading
• Reading the Bible – Where to Start?
• How to Have a ‘Quiet Time’ with God
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