I Messed Up – Now What?
Luke 15:17-19 “The son realised that he had been very foolish. He thought, ‘All my father’s hired workers have plenty of food. But here I am, almost dead because I have nothing to eat. I will leave and go to my father. I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But let me be like one of your hired workers.’ So he left and went to his father.
When was the last time that you felt ashamed of what you’d done? It’s not a nice feeling, is it? And like Adam and Eve back there in the Garden of Eden, our natural instinct is to run and hide from God.
Yep, shame makes you want to cover your face. I mean, how would you feel if every wrong thought, every mistake, every appalling thing you’d ever done was turned into pictures and hung in a public gallery for all to see? You’d never show your face again!
Perhaps you know Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son about a young man who rebelled, took his inheritance and squandered it on loose living. When the money ran out, he fell on hard times – which is what inevitably what happens when we rebel against God. But eventually, he …
Luke 15:17-19 … realised that he had been very foolish. He thought, ‘All my father’s hired workers have plenty of food. But here I am, almost dead because I have nothing to eat. I will leave and go to my father. I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But let me be like one of your hired workers.’ So he left and went to his father.
The turning point came when his hunger outweighed the shame of going back to his father and admitting his mistake. If you know the story though, you’ll know that Dad welcomed him back with open arms.
That decision to turn back can be a struggle. So if you’re ashamed, if you’re struggling, know this: religion says, I messed up. My Dad’s going to kill me, but the Gospel says, I messed up. I need to call Dad.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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BJ
I really appreciate the daily devotions for a few reasons. It’s great to know that someone cares enough to create ...
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I really appreciate the daily devotions for a few reasons. It’s great to know that someone cares enough to create them to share with others. Also, the topics are different each day and provide food for thought, encouragement and good news. Lastly, they come in a variety of formats and don’t take long to watch, read or listen to. A beacon of light.