April 17

Scripture Luke 15:11-24

Many of you as you read this scripture may already know how the father must have felt. The words most parents dread to hear, "I'm leaving home," was uttered by his youngest son. He demanded that his father give him his share and off he went. Instead of spending his money wisely, he wasted all he had and almost starved to death. Finally he swallowed his pride and headed for home. I'm sure that the father like any parent had prayed every day for his wayward son.

Verse 20 tells us that one day the father looked up and saw his son coming. He didn't run and lecture him on how he lived his life, no, he had compassion on him, kissed him and welcomed him home. Even though his clothes were shabby and dirty, the father called for the finest robe to be put on him. All that mattered was that his son was home.

When we came to Jesus we were clothed in nothing but dirty garments of sin. Jesus forgave us and gave us a spotless garment to wear, one washed in His precious blood. He wrote our names in the lamb's book of life and is in Heaven preparing a place for us.

Maybe as you read this, you may have children or a child outside of the fold and living the way you do not approve of. You may have brought them up the best you could but in some unguarded hour they slipped and fell away from God. Remember Proverbs 22:6 says,"Train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." Keep on praying and believing.




There's nothing like the love of God
When we wander and go astray
If we forsake our sinful life
He'll welcome us home today
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