FINDING YOUR WAY HOME!

Friday, March 15, 2019

FINDING YOUR WAY HOME!

Luke 15:17-19

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

           The sordid yet sensitive story of the prodigal is a short newsreel of many of our lives. At some point we became stupefied with forbidden delicacies and we wandered away from the stiff but safe confines of home. We wanted our liberty from righteousness so that we could engage in the unthinkable. Oh, it was fun for awhile but then the lifestyle we had chosen drained us of resources and respect. We would like to go home, but how can that happen? Luke 15 gives us a three step program for returning.

           Wake up! Verse 17 says that the prodigal “came to himself” as if waking up from a bad dream. The thin veil of lies we have told ourselves and others no longer hid the truth of our condition. Things are bad and have been bad for too long. Here we see the birth of reason!

           Stand up! Verse 18 finds the prodigal rising from the hog wallow he had made for himself. Recognizing our self-made misery is not enough. There needs to be a firm decision to change. Here we see the birth of repentance!

           Fess up! Even repentance is incomplete without an encounter with those we have hurt – especially the Father. He had actually financed our wickedness while waiting for that wickedness to do its disciplinary work. We need to confront Him and say “I’m sorry.” It’s time to rejoin the family even if it means at a lower station. Here we see the birth of reconciliation!

Dear Lord awaken those who are still asleep in their sins. Help them to stand up and remove themselves from those sins. Receive those who long to return with kindness and grace. AMEN