Come Home for Christmas
Thursday, December 21, 2006
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for always welcoming me home, when I have strayed far from You! Thank You for Your grace, which extends to me every day! Fill me anew with Your Holy Spirit that I may live in such a way as to bring You glory and honor, and that others who are lost, may see my life and be drawn to come home to You as well. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God’s Word Today
Luke 15:11-32
11To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now, instead of waiting until 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 took a trip to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money on wild living. 14About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15He persuaded a local farmer to hire him to feed his pigs. 16The boy 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 men have food enough to spare, and here I am, dying of hunger! 18I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired man.”’
20“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21His 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. 23And kill the calf we have been fattening in the pen. We must celebrate with a feast, 24for 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, 26and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the calf we were fattening and has prepared a great feast. 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, 29but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve worked hard 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. 30Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the finest calf we have.’
31“His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you and I are very close, and everything I have is yours. 32We 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!’”
Reflecting on God’s Word
What has God done for You since You have come home to Him?
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
What is the Father’s response to the son’s speech?
What do the gifts of the father symbolize for the son?
Understanding God’s Purpose for Us
According to Luke 11:22-24, what is God’s purpose for our lives?
Applying God’s Word to Our Purpose
Today’s Scripture is all about God’s grace and welcome in our lives. The son was expecting to be a servant. Instead, his father restored him fully to the family. Think about what it means to you that you are a fully restored member of God’s family! List some realities that are yours as a child of the living God below, and after you have done that, take some time to thank God for these blessings!
Thoughts—“Let’s Party!”
Many people who do not know Him portray God as stern and austere. Nothing could be farther from the truth. God loves us and His great grace and compassion causes Him to lavish great blessings on our lives. God’s greatest desire is that we know Him and love Him. When the younger son in the parable came home, his father was waiting for Him. We can only imagine that the father had rehearsed this day every day since his son left. Rather than waste the days in anger and bitterness over the son’s insensitivity in taking his inheritance early, the father prayed for his son, and planned his return. When the son actually returned the father lavished love on him FIRST through the hug and kiss he extended; then through the gifts of the robe, ring and sandals. Finally, it was time to throw a party! In that day such parties were reserved for the most special of occasions, and this was, indeed, the most special of occasions for the father. His lost son was home at last! When you are tempted to think of God as hard and stern, think of this parable and remember that God is loving, compassionate and generous. He is eager to “throw a party” for us when we return home. Our lives matter infinitely to Him, as we see through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and to give us the opportunity of new life. Let’s live today with gratitude for our amazing God who always welcomes us home! Let’s show that same love to others, that they may come home, too!