PRODIGALS Come Home...

What makes a PRODIGAL?

A Prodigal is defined online as "a person who leaves home and behaves recklessly, but later makes a repentant return." We first hear the words "Prodigal Son" in the Bible, in Luke 15. Jesus tells three parables about the LOST. Have YOU ever been LOST?

There are different aspects to being LOST:

1) Going somewhere you have been before or know where you are going but taking the wrong path to get there.

2) Not knowing where you are going as you've never been there, and taking the wrong path to get there.

3) You followed someone and they have led you the wrong way

4) Being left in the middle of somewhere not knowing where you are

Either way you are considered LOST... you need GPS or a map or someone to lead you in the direction you are supposed to go.

The LOST spiritually are those who don't know Jesus, or they know Jesus and have wandered away from Him. They are the ONE lost sheep, or lost coin or lost son. A prodigal knows the One they are running from. They know the Truth, yet still follows the lies of the world. When they finally make the decision to turn back to the Father, He is always there waiting. No matter how many steps you think you have taken from Him, He is right there when you turn and repent. Repenting doesn't always consist of a bitter, evil past. We as the "other son" have to repent continuously for sins committed. No one is perfect. The Christian life isn't a perfect life. In the parable in Luke, the older son is angry that the Father is celebrating the return of his little brother, the son who was lost. He was upset that the Father never celebrated him or gave him anything special. That is sometimes our behaviour as a follower of Jesus. We don't realize all the GOOD things that come with being a son. We become complacent and then bitter when new followers receive good things and walk in the blessings of God our Father. Whereas we who are committed followers have the same blessings and can walk in that truth as well.

A prodigal just has to turn, and repent. that's all. He has to admit he was wrong for choosing the path most taken. For either choosing to go it alone, or following the crowd in the wrong way. The LOST need to be found. Someone has to help bring them in. A sheep needs to hear the voice of the Shepherd to know where to go. What does it take for a PRODIGAL to return? let's spell PRODIGAL and find out some of the keys to COMING HOME.

P is for PRIDE - They have to let go of their pride and admit they are wrong. They have chosen an easy path in some cases, but it really is the wrong path. If the path doesn't lead you to JESUS and FREEDOM, then you are captive to your sin and the enemy. If you are not for Him, you are against Him. We need to HUMBLE ourselves and admit we need a Saviour.

R is for REPENT - To repent is to basically turn from that which is wrong and do what is right. We will not always do what is right, but making the effort is at least a better option. Picture yourself driving down a road, the wrong way. How do you go the right way? You have to make a U-Turn. Our Father allows U-turns in our lives. One of the words in the GREEK for repent is

"metanoeo", meaning 'to change one's mind or purpose'. You change from RECKLESS to REPENTANT.

O is for OBEDIENCE - A simple step to doing that which is RIGHT comes with obedience. Once you have repented and turned from your sin, you basically are making the choice to listen to God and do what is right and true. Obedience is even trying to do that which is right. A Christian doesn't live the perfect life, but is attempting to live their life with the attributes of Jesus or Christian character.

D is for DECISION - It is after all still your choice. God has given us free will to decide what to do. But he also gives us DISCERNMENT so we know right from wrong. Anything that is against the Word of God is not right. We need to CHOOSE this day for ourselves whom we will serve. Self or God? The enemy, Father of lies and hate or the God of truth and love?

I is for IDENTITY - Part of the reason people stray from the Lord after knowing Him is that they want their own identity. They have lived what they feel is their "best life" apart from Him, but when they realize how much they need Him, they want to see themselves as a slave or servant not as their real identity as a son (or daughter). Just like the Prodigal son in Luke 15, He states " I will go home to my father and say, 'Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant'.” Our Father wants you to know that you are His child. He is your Father. One sentence I have always remembered is "If you want to know who you are, you must first know Jesus". Our identity rests in Him alone. He has called us and chosen us even before the beginning of the world, and even when we were in our sin. "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5:8 NLT

G is for GRACE - It is only by God's grace that we are SAVED. God grants us repentance by His grace alone. Grace is getting something that we don't deserve. We deserve death as the penalty for our sin. Because of love, and His grace and mercy, God sent Jesus His Son to take our place as the sacrifice once and for all. All because of the goodness of God! "Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?" Romans 2:4

A is for ACCEPTANCE - God accepts you the way you are, but He loves you too much to leave you that way! He accepts us back into His family, and He has His arms open wide when you turn to Him. The prodigal son was a long way off from the Father, but the Father was always watching the road for the son to return. The son was returning defeated and disheartened, but the Father was running to Him with open arms thankful that his lost son was now found.

L is for LOVE - The Father's love for you is unending. No matter what you have done, or where you have gone, or even when you don't profess your love for Him. His love is truthfully UNCONDITIONAL. His love stretches farther and deeper, higher and wider than we can ever know. 

At some points in our lives we followers of Jesus are all like the prodigal son, we have slipped into temptation and sin, and think we cannot get out, and think our sin has tarnished us. But we can run to the Father again and again. But God didn't give us grace to keep on sinning. We are supposed to learn from our wicked ways. Each time we may feel like we have failed we can say "I run to the Father again and again and again and again..." 

Check out these lyrics to the chorus of "Run to the Father" by Cody Carnes:

I run to the Father
I fall into grace
I'm done with the hiding
No reason to wait
My heart needs a surgeon
My soul needs a friend
So I'll run to the Father
Again and again
And again and again

Here is the link to the song on YOUTUBE (link opens in a new window).

Jesus told the parable of the Prodigal Son to make a point:

It doesn't matter what you have done, how far you have run,

Just COME HOME!

So, PRODIGALS come HOME!!

Love you all! Be BLESSED to be a BLESSING!

DRAW NEAR: Week 3 - MONDAY

// Monday //

Read – Psalm 19:7-9, Jeremiah 15:16

SOAP – Psalm 19:7-9

"The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair."

In the NLT the words of Proverbs 19:7-9 are a little different, but still the same meaning... "The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair.

Of course I pulled out how God's Word was described, the nature of it and of God, & what it gave us or received from it.

Get into the Word • Know the Word • Obey the Word • Live the Word

1) Instructions - perfect - revives our soul

'Instructions' defined: a direction or order. Detailed info telling how something should be done, operated or assembled.

2) Decrees - trustworthy - wisdom to the simple

'Decree' defined: an official order issued by a legal authority

3) Commandments - - joy to our hearts

'Commandments' defined: a divine rule, especially one of the 10 commandments. A rule to be observed strictly.

4) Commands - clear - insight for living

'Commands' defined: an authoritative order

5) Reverance - pure - everlasting (the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 1:7).

'Reverence' defined: deep respect for something or someone. Regard or treat with deep respect.

6) Laws - true - fair/just

'Laws' defined: the system of rules regulating which a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties.

So many facets of His Word... but it all relates to each other. Our Bible... 'Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth'... how to get our earthly spiritual bodies ready for our heavenly spiritual home.

...and the verse in Jeremiah 15:16 "When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies."

Putting the two readings together, I pulled this out... His Words (whether they be Instructions, decrees, commandments, commands, laws or the pure reverent words) are our daily bread... we can "eat" His Word daily and digest and understand it and it can fill us with the spiritual nutrients we need. Just like breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day... the morning Scripture is the most important spiritual meal. Clearly at this quarantine time, we enjoy snacking throughout the day, just like we can glean from the Word throughout the day. We think on what we read & God sends more Scriptures, revelations and thoughts our way. I love a late-night snack as I don't like to go to bed on an empty stomach, and so a Word from the Lord before bed helps me sleep as well.

When I hear the word "devour" -- I immediately jump to the verse in 1 Peter 5:8 describing our enemy who prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour." He prowls LIKE a lion, as he wants to be like Jesus the Lion of Judah. If we DEVOUR the Scriptures, the enemy cannot DEVOUR us! As Jesus fought temptation from the enemy with the Word, we can do the same!

"Devour" (for our purpose I skipped the eating definition) is defined as: from Latin devorare "swallow down, accept eagerly," ... Read quickly & eagerly....To absorb or engrossed wholly... To enjoy avidly.

(Source: Different online dictionaries)

Eagerly and avidly read the Word. Absorb it... into our spirit man. Get engrossed wholly into it! WOW!

We can trust fully in the Word and the words of our God. His nature is spoken through His word - as it says "for out of the heart the mouth speaks" Luke 6:45. ♡

He is making us more like Him as we read and glean from His Word. We need to guard our gates for sure. We are Ambassadors for Him. We have to walk in reverence (holy fear) of Him, His Name and His Word. This is a BIG eye-opener to the importance of this in these times. Defintely makes me wanna kick my butt into gear. Obey and live the Word!

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Proverbs 4:23

Sidenote: Some people just think the Bible/the Word is a list of rules and regulations, of don's & don'ts... thinking that much of the Old Testament doesn't apply to us today. That we don't have to follow the laws because Jesus came. But it says Jesus came to FULFILL the Law. His Word is more than just rules and regulations. It does show us the way to live. But it is a CHOICE. There are way more Do's than Don'ts... and IF we do... He promises to 'do' as well. But we aren't just to 'do' like a rule or law... we are to 'be'. When we become who God made us to be and walk in truths of His Word and His nature (as concluded above) we will naturally just 'do' as Jesus did, & 'be' Jesus with skin on... and then eternally in Spirit.

Leads into the 'be'attitudes...

Wow! God is so good!!

Have a happy and blessed week ahead!

BE BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!

DRAW NEAR: Week 2 - FRIDAY

// FRIDAY //

Read – Colossians 1:15-20, Psalm 19:4-6

SOAP – Colossians 1:15-16

Colossians 1:15-16 NLT

"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him."

Christ is Supreme. Know that He is God and it is He who made us!

So, of course, another verse came to me. Psalm 100:3 "Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture."

This was one of the first chapters I memorized as a young child... Praise the Lord! We are His! Know that He is God and it is He who made us. We are His sheep, & He is our Shepherd. Be thankful, for His mercy and love endure forever! AMEN!

DRAW NEAR: WEEK 2 - THURSDAY

// THURSDAY //

Read – Jeremiah 29:12-14, James 4:8

SOAP – James 4:8

"Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world." James 4:8 NLT

One step takes us into God. He doesn't move, we do. Sin separates us. Therefore we need to have clean hands & hearts to come into His presence. We need to repent of sin in thought, word and deed. Things we "touch" that are unclean... we have to cleanse our hands. Our mouths speak what is in our hearts. Our minds control what we think, say and do. Keep it clean and we can be loyal and stay in God's presence!

Jeremiah 29:11-14 NLT "'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,' says the Lord. 'I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land'.”

When we humble ourselves and pray, & seek Him He will hear from Heaven and forgive our sins and heal our land. He will restore us and grant us many blessings.

Psalm 24:3-4 "Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies."

Cleanse us Lord in thought, word and deed of the sins we have committed intentionally and unintentionally that we may boldly stand before your throne & stand in your holy presence!

 

 SOAP pages...

 BE BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!

DRAW NEAR: WEEK 2 - WEDNESDAY

// WEDNESDAY //

Read – John 1:14-18, Psalm 19:4-6

SOAP – John 1:14

"So the Word became human[a] and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.[b] And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son."

In the NLT, John 1:14 says, "So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son."

Jesus the Word became human, and came to earth to dwell with His creation, to once again "walk with us". He was God, yet came as a human so we could relate to Him, & He could relate to us. He however did not have fleshly nature nor did He sin, He still had the nature of God, so people could see the glory of God the Father through His Son.

Jesus was a real human. He "knew no sin" (2 Cor 5:21) & even though He was human like 'us', He faced temptations, yet He did not sin! He was the Word, & He knew the Word of His Father and the Holy Scriptures. He remembered what His Father said, & we need to remember what the Word and the word says too! We can focus on temptation or on 'grace and truth/unfailing love & faithfulness' of God.

In John 1:14 AMP it says in the last part, "...[the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception)."

Read it again... wow! One of a Kind and absolutely free of deception.

My other verse that came to me was 2 Cor 5:21 and I love the words in the TPT "For God made the only one who did not know sin to become sin for us, so that we who did not know righteousness might become the righteousness of God through our union with him."

Jesus - knew no sin and was righteous

Us - didn't know true righteousness and were full of sin

He became the Word in flesh, & made the greatest exchange in history ever with us... and future generations.

He "knew no sin'... he knew what sin was as God is Omniscient, but he didn't look on it. Adam & Eve opened the door to sin in the garden... before they ate from.the tree, they would have walked in righteousness with God.

As in yesterday's notes, We exchanged the Truth of God for a lie... but today we add... BUT GOD!!!

Jesus exchanged Righteousness and closeness to the Father for ALL our sins (even ones not yet committed)! WOW!! Our God is so good!

We need to walk in grace, truth, righteousness, life and unfailing love, etc... we should NOT walk in sin, despair/loneliness, deception, lies or death, etc! Jesus came as the Father with skin on... and He challenged His disciples and US to be Jesus with skin on!

I just love those two words BUT GOD!!

BE BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!

DRAW NEAR: WEEK 2 - TUESDAY

// TUESDAY //

Read – Romans 1:18-21, 1 Timothy 2:3-4

SOAP – Romans 1:20

No Man Left Behind!

"Forever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God." Romans 1:20 NLT

The truth is God is everywhere, whether His creation/people choose to believe or not, He still is. Those who say they don't believe, have NO excuse! We can see God visibly & invisibly in His creation! He is omniscient, omnipotent & omnipresent! He just IS! He is the I AM all around us!

We need to stop trying to prove He is and let Him show others He is... we just need to speak and show forth His truth. He wants EVERYONE to come to the knowledge of Him & have a special relationship with Him. He loves each of us as if we were the only one. We need to PRAISE Him for His goodness and help share the TRUTH. The truth was made OBVIOUS to them... but they have been shadowed from the truth by the darkness of sin. We need to walk in the Truth!

1 Timothy 2:3-4 NLT "This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth."

In Rom.1:25, it says "they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator who is forever praised." -- God allowed his people to do what their human desires led them to do... and a lot of them chose to go the way of sin. BUT He has also allowed us to choose the Truth and those of us who repent and turn from our sin can be a part of His family and share in His inheritance of Life! Jesus doesn't just FORCE Himself on us, it is a choice. We have to align our Spirit man with our Flesh man & that's a tough thing to do on our own. First, we have to KNOW that there is One who can help us. The Way, the Truth and the Life! The old VBS saying comes back to me again and again... "If you want to know who you are, you must first know Jesus!" It's like "Captain Obvious" to us, but we need to declare the truth to others in our walk and in our talk.

Romans 1:25 reminds me of a drama/skit I did in Youth group "The Statue" (a modern take of the Golden Calf)... what are 'statues' in our lives that have to come down? God is taking this time of Quarantine to refresh and renew us and bring us back to our First Love. 

Be blessed today and if you see snow... remember God washes us as white as the snow... if we choose to let Him! So thankful you have all chosen this time to get closer to Him!! Now off to read your revelations! I just love that part too!! 

Romans 1 v21 in the Passion Translation says "fingerprints of God"... and it reminded me of course of a song... so I will share with you. Praying it touches your heart if you are not feeling like a 'masterpiece'! The video has the lyrics so you can read them and remind yourself that all creation applauds the YOU that God made as we all applaud Him who made us.

https://youtu.be/Z2Dor3dmIJw