I was 15 years old when I first witnessed a basketball player score for the opposing team. It was late in a game, and my team had the contest in hand. One by one, my coach began sending in players who rarely got a chance to play.
One of my teammates, Sam, bounced out on the court with tremendous enthusiasm. He received a pass, gave the defender a quick fake, and dribbled down court—the wrong way. We tried to wave Sam off and yelled for him to stop, but he was determined to score. And he did—for the other team!
Jesus told a story about a young man headed the wrong way in life (Luke 15:11-32). Soon after demanding his portion of his father’s estate, he “packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living” (v.13). Things went from bad to worse. Soon a famine struck, resulting in work and food being scarce.
Hungry and penniless, the wayward son finally came to his senses and made his way back home. To the son’s surprise, his father was eagerly waiting for him to return and welcomed him with hugs and a huge party (vv.20-24).
It’s not what the young man deserved, but Jesus’ story reminds us of the grace God extends to any of His wayward children who return to Him. By Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins, He forgives and celebrates our return! He doesn’t shame His kids for losing their way.
When we rebel and go our own way, it isn’t long before we face the bitterness of our choices and struggle with our next move. The best move is to turn back to God—bowing before Him in true repentance and then being stunned by His grace and acceptance.
More:
You, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness (Psalm 86:15).
Next:
Pause for a few minutes to remember and thank God for the last time He surprised you with His grace. How will you choose to honor and glorify Him by your obedience today?
corky on November 24, 2009 at 7:08 am
I have a 31 year old daughter coming home with 2 children to get her financial life back in order. She has a God from her catholic upbringing but not personal relationship with Jesus our Savior…She’s a good person and loves to do the right thing according to the world….I pray she can see how much more rewarding it can be to do the right thing according to God’s word, promises and truths thru our example of being born again parents and household. We are not perfect examples but God is and he can work with us inspite of our shortcomings….Please pray for the Leonard/Clemons family…I will be praying for my brothers and sisters….
maryanneb47 on May 2, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Corky I’m in a similar situation. My daughter, 4grandchildren, the father of three of the 4 grandchildren, and my son live with me and I pray several times a day that they will find Jesus. Please pray for me and them that I will get the wisdom to help them find Jesus.
kewi on November 24, 2009 at 8:29 am
Corky, I will pray for you, I understand some of the things ahead of you. We have 2 single parent daughters, and financial things for them is a struggle. Our daughters are slowly learning to trust God and listen to him. Our example is critical. We have had to learn to trust God more ourselves and they slowly follow in our footsteps.
Richard Foreman on November 24, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I too was headed down the wrong road. I have been in the military for six years, three deployments to Iraq and have come to realize that I was pleasing the world around me and anybody who would listen. I was turning away from the Lord and my family.
I now have realized that I was wrong and turned my life back around. I realized this a little too late, because some of the things I have done, will cost me my career in the military. Please pray that the Foreman Family will move forward by the grace of God and the love he has continued to show us!
raptureready on November 26, 2009 at 7:20 am
Is there any Christian who has not taken off down their own “rabbit trail” and suddenly found themselves by themselves, totally lost. I certainly have-many times.
Thank God for God. My stumbling block is pride. I can be in the quicksand of pride before I even know it-especially when I think I am being so humble and being used by God for some mission.
I think that one of the lessons we don’t really teach new believers is that falling is not failing it is learning. Guilt will not bring us back to our Father but rather a recoginition of His love-even when we are foolish-is the magnet that draws us back to His loving arms.
I enjoy being a Christian when I realize that my life is a planned journey, Gods got my back, He will never leave me and I can run into His loving arms anytime I want. He is never too busy, distracted or disgusted with me.
Whew!