A sermon I’ve never forgotten

Devotional

I went to college at a Baptist university. One day, I heard a visiting pastor speak in chapel on the parable of the prodigal son from Luke 15:11–32.

As a religion major, I thought I knew all there was to know about this famous story. I knew that a son asking for his inheritance before his father had died was extremely disrespectful in Jesus’ culture, or any culture for that matter. I knew that a Jewish boy feeding pigs was the absolute worst outcome you could imagine in their day. I knew that the father’s decision to give his returning prodigal the “best robe,” a “ring on his hand,” and “shoes on his feet” (Luke 15:22) was a sign that the father was welcoming him not as a servant but as a son.

And I knew that the older brother who was angry and refused to go into the celebration that ensued represented the Jewish religious leaders and their condemnation of all who did not share their legalistic righteousness.

As the pastor told the story and explained these details, I waited for the sermon to be over so I could get on with my day. But when he was done, he asked a question I had never considered, one that struck me deeply and resonates with me still.

He looked at the chapel filled with college students and asked, “If you were the prodigal son, who would you want to greet you when you returned home: the loving father or the older brother?”

How would you answer his question?

Here’s the good news: your Father will never be the older brother. He forgives every sin you confess and then forgets what he forgives. But here’s the catch: he can receive you by grace only when you come to him for grace. He honors the freedom he has entrusted to us and will not force us to receive his gifts of love. He knocks at the door of our hearts and will come in only when we open it (Revelation 3:20). Just like the prodigal son, we have to turn toward the Father.

In Isaiah 30:18, the prophet explained: “The Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion” (NLT).

As we focus this week on God’s call for his people to “turn from their wicked ways,” know that when you do, you will be met by a Father who loves you more deeply than you can imagine.

When you take the first step to him, he will take all the rest to you.

Turn toward your loving father today as we enter a time of guided prayer.

today’s devotional is written by Jim Denison