But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
The son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son."
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. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." So they began to celebrate.
TO PONDER
This ungrateful son had demanded his portion of the inheritance. Essentially saying ‘I wish you were dead’; relationship severed. But as we know well, his perspective changes after some trying times and he goes back to admit his errors to his father. He was prepared to maintain this relationship to work as a hired servant, he would no longer be his son and heir. And yet, the father did not lose hope that the son would come to his senses and return. Despite the huge financial and relationship damage he caused, the son was forgiven and restored.
We deserve to be left to be disowned by God, for all the terrible things that we have done. But all we need to do is say sorry, and He will come eagerly running to pick us up and renew our place in the family.
Through the death of Jesus, we are restored to His family. As sons and daughters, we will inherit all the glory and power that Jesus gives.
PRAYER:God, you are always patient for us to turn back around and admit our mistakes. Thank you that there is always a place for us as your beloved child.
Today's devotion written by Josh Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Westside
But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.
TO PONDER
When they were younger, Jacob deceived his father, and stole the firstborn blessing of abundance and respect, off Esau. Understandably, Esau had a grudge, and vowed to kill his brother over this trick. Jacob fled, and over twenty years was blessed with a large family and vast livestock.
Jacob is due to travel and reunite with his older brother Esau, but is stricken with fear over the 400 men that will come with Esau. So he sets up huge groups of his livestock ahead of him as gifts and a buffer of his family to hopefully appease his avenging brother. Jacob hasn’t forgotten what he deserves. Have the years changed his heart? Will the gifts appease him?
He sees Esau run towards him - he did not expect a warm embrace of love! The old animosity has been washed away and they both weep because the past has been forgiven. Thank God for forgiveness!
PRAYER:Lord, our hate for others tears us apart, help us to see how forgiveness will restore our love for your family.
Today's devotion written by Josh Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Westside
and through him [Jesus] to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—
TO PONDER
Again, we are reminded that God has given us such an incredible gift through Jesus. God wants to absorb us into Himself, not to be cut off and separated from us. We have the opportunity to be seen as holy, spotless and blameless; perfect.
When you think about it, nothing in our world is really perfect. No song, no project, no institution, no person. It’s an impossible task. Everything and everyone has their flaws. But Jesus is perfect, and here we read that we can be the same in God’s eyes because of what Jesus did for us on the cross!
PRAYER:Lord, we deserve to be cut off from you, but you don’t want that. You made the way to make us holy. Remind us of this as we move through our imperfect lives.
Today's devotion written by Josh Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Westside
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
TO PONDER
A brand new life! A brand new perspective! Through Jesus, we get a glimpse of the way that God sees all people. We have been invited to be a part of his Kingdom and plans. God has defined reconciliation and forgiveness, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, and we have the privilege to share it to all the people in our lives who need to hear it.
God has enough love for everyone, and we need to be this way too. All the not-yet-Christians in our lives are waiting to hear the Good News, so we must speak to them and turn them from the ways of the world.
PRAYER:God, you lovingly made the way for us to turn to you. Give us the courage to tell this to others.
Today's devotion written by Josh Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Westside
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.
TO PONDER
This passage goes on to detail increasing levels of people to assist with pointing out a sin or an error of someone of the church family. This is to be done with compassion and love, and gives a chance for the wrongdoer to reconcile their error. But if they are stubborn and hardheaded, it will lead to removal from the church.
The easy thing to do is to imagine yourself as the person pointing out the sin of someone else, then getting support from other members. But don’t forget that you could be in the position of the sinner. So take a breath, say sorry to your brother or sister, and to God, and rejoin the Body of Christ.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to see when I have done wrong. And help me to forgive those who have wronged me.
Today's devotion written by Josh Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Westside
“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
TO PONDER
This servant in this story owed the king ten thousand bags of gold. Ten thousand. An eye-watering, un-fathomable and impossible sum of money. There is zero chance that this man has any ability to pay this amount in his lifetime. The king knows this, so the manager ordered that the man, with all the possessions and family he loves, to be sold and to become slaves.
We also deserve this.
Yet, this servant has the audacity to ask for a chance. Amazingly, he is given his freedom! Then promptly goes to crush his fellow servant for a trivial sum. This earns him torture in jail until he could pay it all back. (An endless amount of time. Sound familiar?)
But, we know what Jesus did to cancel our debts. Our compassionate King has this power if we ask for it.
PRAYER: Jesus, we deserve to pay our impossible debts, but your love frees us.
Today's devotion written by Joshua Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Westside.
Therefore this is what the Lord says: “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me;
if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,you will be my spokesman.
Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.
TO PONDER
Here Jeremiah is in despair about the sin of his nation, and their rejection of God. He gives graphic descriptions of the destruction that will be brought on this people.
They were ‘backsliding’, and it is easy to do this. So when we choose to turn back to God, He is always ready to reach out and pull you up. He is endlessly patient and willing, and his love is relentless.
When we turn back to God and place our obedience back with Him, we become ambassadors of God. In turn, we can forgive others, and live and speak in a way that others will notice; while not slipping into the ways of the world.
PRAYER: God, your power and patience amaze me. Help me turn back to you, and turn others to you.
Today's devotion written by Josh Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Westside
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
TO PONDER
Today, Saturday the 8 March 1997 (28 years ago), I married my beautiful wife. We were married at St Lukes Lutheran church in Albury. We both stood at the alter head over heels in love thinking it can’t get much better than this, and that life together would be a ‘breeze’ as we had each other. The day was such a happy occasion but it will always be somewhat of a blur for us as after all the hard work and months of meticulous preparation, it was over in a flash! One thing we both vividly remember about the day and have spoken about numerous times over the course of our marriage, was the message our Minister, Pastor Rick Mickelson gave to us and our family and friends present that day during his address. ‘Marriage is hard-work!’
Pastor Rick was and remains absolutely right. Marriage is hard work! Having a common faith and knowing that God has promised to walk with us (“so do not fear, for I am with you”) has been instrumental for us. Our faith and love have been challenged from time to time such as during the eight years it took us to start a family, but with all these challenges, God was strengthening our faith in Him and our love for one another (“I will strengthen you and help you”). Over the journey together we have grown to accept that God’s will for us is still taking shape and only He knows what is to come and what awaits us around the next bend, but he promises to hold us up and support us (“I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”). We can take great comfort from today’s reading.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
This is all we need to journey on together as one. Thanks be to God.
PRAYER: Thank you, Heavenly Father, for all that you have done for me and for all that you continue to do. Your promise to walk with me provides me with the assurance that I have nothing to fear. Your continual provision of strength and help and being there for me to lean on You in times of trouble, provides endless comfort. Amen
Today's devotion written by Shane Burdack, LifeWay Epping
for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose
TO PONDER
As I read this verse for today it reminds me of a conversation I have had with my Dad in recent weeks.
My elderly father, following a fall at home 12 months ago, required transportation from a Regional city to Melbourne for surgery that we were not sure he would survive. By the grace of God, Dad pulled through and spent the following 4-5 months away from home in rehabilitation and respite. Since the accident, his overall health including cognitive function has deteriorated markedly to the point that he now requires daily visitation care and is on the verge of having to move into full-time care at the aged care facility he and my Mum are in. Dad mentioned to me that he's ready for the good Lord to take him home. Dad (& my Mum) have been instrumental in my faith life and their unshakeable faith is such an example to me and indeed a tower of strength.
Whilst Dad was not complaining, he was inherently indicating that he is good and ready to be taken to his eternal home in Heaven if it is God's will. I said to Dad, Yes, the good Lord will take you home when He is ready and the fact that you are here with us means that He still has a purpose for you here on earth.
Whilst God's purpose for us might not be overly obvious to us at times, we can let the Holy Spirit live within us and work His ways, presenting us with opportunities for Him to assist us in carrying out His purpose (God’s purpose for us). For my Dad, this might be using the opportunity to spread God's word or show Christ's love to the carers who visit daily, to the carers who transport him to medical appointments, to the reception staff at the medical practice or even those sitting in the waiting room.
Are you letting God work within you to fulfill His good purpose?
PRAYER: Heavenly Carpenter, help me to be a willing disciple and let you carve, shape and craft me just the way you want me, so that I can fulfil the very purpose you have for me here on earth as your child. Amen
Today's devotion written by Shane Burdack, LifeWay Epping