Study Material: Luke 15:21-24
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.
24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
Today’s Teaching:
In God’s heart, each of us have a place. Likewise, in His Kingdom, each of us have our own space. Nobody can replace the other. Even if you run far away from God, your place is there and He eagerly wants you to return. In the story of the prodigal son, he ran off, blew his inheritance and brought disgrace to his family. A father with resources is alive and his son starts begging for the food of the pigs? He was an embarrassment to his father. But all of that was irrelevant when he decided to return home. His father was just happy to have him back. He celebrated. That is how the Kingdom of God is. All of us are special and God does not want any of us lost.
We can secede, run away, denounce and reject God, but He never stops loving us. He never changes. He always has a place for us and is ushering us to come home. God blesses us with jobs, and we get too busy to go to church. He blesses us with money shopping to go to Bible study. He blesses us with spouses and children and we are too busy making a life for them. We get irritated and expect Him to understand that we are just very busy. After all, there is traffic, then long work hours, then traffic to go home. Not to forget, we are tired. Although we use all of what He gives us on ourselves and our families and disregard His work here on earth, He misses us. When we return to Him, He welcomes us home. Bless God for His love and mercy.
The Kingdom of God is not like the house of your earthly parents. The prodigal son met his father with open arms, but not every earthly parent does that. Some are unforgiving, unrepentant and even unloving. Some have time limits for when you must leave their homes; and even pressure you to be like others. Some are excellent, but none equal our God. God loves you unconditionally. You are special in His Kingdom; and if you make a mistake and leave, He always welcomes you home.
Take Home Lesson: Maybe you have not left, but you have one foot out and one foot in. Maybe both feet are in, but your heart is not.
Homework: Examine yourself today. Are you fully vested in the Kingdom? Are you there with your whole heart? If so, bless God for where you find yourself today and if you are not, ask God to strengthen you to be fully vested in the Kingdom.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.
24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
Today’s Teaching:
In God’s heart, each of us have a place. Likewise, in His Kingdom, each of us have our own space. Nobody can replace the other. Even if you run far away from God, your place is there and He eagerly wants you to return. In the story of the prodigal son, he ran off, blew his inheritance and brought disgrace to his family. A father with resources is alive and his son starts begging for the food of the pigs? He was an embarrassment to his father. But all of that was irrelevant when he decided to return home. His father was just happy to have him back. He celebrated. That is how the Kingdom of God is. All of us are special and God does not want any of us lost.
We can secede, run away, denounce and reject God, but He never stops loving us. He never changes. He always has a place for us and is ushering us to come home. God blesses us with jobs, and we get too busy to go to church. He blesses us with money shopping to go to Bible study. He blesses us with spouses and children and we are too busy making a life for them. We get irritated and expect Him to understand that we are just very busy. After all, there is traffic, then long work hours, then traffic to go home. Not to forget, we are tired. Although we use all of what He gives us on ourselves and our families and disregard His work here on earth, He misses us. When we return to Him, He welcomes us home. Bless God for His love and mercy.
The Kingdom of God is not like the house of your earthly parents. The prodigal son met his father with open arms, but not every earthly parent does that. Some are unforgiving, unrepentant and even unloving. Some have time limits for when you must leave their homes; and even pressure you to be like others. Some are excellent, but none equal our God. God loves you unconditionally. You are special in His Kingdom; and if you make a mistake and leave, He always welcomes you home.
Take Home Lesson: Maybe you have not left, but you have one foot out and one foot in. Maybe both feet are in, but your heart is not.
Homework: Examine yourself today. Are you fully vested in the Kingdom? Are you there with your whole heart? If so, bless God for where you find yourself today and if you are not, ask God to strengthen you to be fully vested in the Kingdom.