Saturday January 02nd, 2021
Memorize: 1 John 1:9 God’s Words Translations (GWT)
« God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, He forgives them and cleanses us from everything we’ve done wrong. »
Read: Luke 15:11-32 New Living Translations (NLT)
11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story:
“A man had two sons.
12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.
14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.
15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.
16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!
18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,
19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming.
Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’
22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.
23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast,
24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house,
26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on.
27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’
28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him,
29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.
30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’
31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours.
32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”
Message:
If you extend your hand to someone for a handshake, the person would most likely decline if his/her hands are dirty. Naturally, humans avoid staining clean people.
However, God does not operate that way. He is willing to give you a hug even when you are dirty.
The father of the prodigal son for example, did not ask him to take a bath before he could embrace him. He saw his son from afar and ran to meet him (Luke 15:11-32).
The woman with the issue of blood had been bleeding for twelve years. She may have been smelly, the doctors might have taken all her earnings and left her wearing rags but she chose to touch Jesus – the One everyone was celebrating.
Considering her state, ordinarily, she may not have wanted to come close, but she did!
She probably felt too dirty to speak, so she decided to just touch the hem of His garment.
She did not stay away totally because she was dirty.
She made the move and Jesus did not reject her; He even prayed for her (Luke 8:43-48).
The countless sins you have committed stealing, adultery, fornication, or even murder may make you feel dirty. So, you may think God cannot accept you anymore.
Listen, He is waiting for you to take just one step towards Him.
There is no sin too big for the blood of Jesus to cleanse, neither is there any sinner too guilty for Him to forgive.
You might not be able to pray unhindered if you are still feeling dirty. In this case, you have to first pray for forgiveness. All He needs is genuine repentance and He will do the rest.
« Come near to God, and he will come near to you…»
James 4:8 CEV
All He requires is that you take a step towards Him and He will do the rest.
Even if you have entered into a covenant with the devil and sold your soul to him, God is able to help you.
He remains the same; He still sets the lawful captives free (Isaiah 49:24-46).
His arms are still wide open, come to Him now when He is near (Isaiah 55:6). Don’t wait until it would be too late.
Key point: Spread the good news of Gods unconditional love and if you have sinned, come to Him as you are. His arms are still wide open.
Author: Pst E. A. Adeboye.
Text edited by Naomie
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