Category Archives: Faith

Faith

Mission Impossible

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In the film Mission: Impossible Tom Cruise’s character, Nathan Hunt, must navigate a litany of perilous challenges to complete assignments that save lives and uphold justice. The severity of his circumstances, however, always makes success an unlikely outcome. Death seems far more probable. Despite the odds, Hunt always accepts the challenge and true to Hollywood form always manages to complete the mission in some spectacular, though thoroughly unrealistic, way.

Did you know that Scripture recounts the details of a real-life Mission: Impossible from twenty-five hundred years ago? The plot unfolds in Susa, the winter capital of the Persian Empire, where King Xerxes reigned. After deposing his wife, Queen Vashti, for an act of brazen disloyalty, the king holds a contest to find a suitable replacement and ultimately selects a young Jewish maiden named Esther, who captivates his heart.

The excitement surrounding her ascension to the throne, however, eventually subsides and gives way to anxiety and horror when Esther learns of a plan to slaughter every Jew in the Persian Empire. Her uncle Mordecai, who had adopted her as a child and raised her as a daughter, encourages her to intervene and ask the king to revoke the decree. She resists, explaining that anyone who approaches the king uninvited is subject to death. She wants to help her people but the fear of death paralyzes her.

In response, Mordecai issues a stinging rebuke. “Don’t think for a minute that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other source, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows, perhaps you were made queen for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14, NLT).

His message emphasizes two points. First, God will accomplish His plan with or without her. She is uniquely positioned to serve as God’s agent to rescue the Jews but will suffer severe consequences if she acts selfishly instead.

Second, it is likely that God coordinated her selection as queen for this exact moment, so she could appeal to the king directly and preserve thousands of Jewish lives. Mordecai challenges her to recalibrate her thinking; to recognize that God blessed her so she could bless others – not so she could pamper herself with a lifestyle of luxury.

Similarly, God has placed each of us in a position to serve as His agents to those around us. He has blessed us with wealth, influence, intellect, and diligence. But as with Esther, those blessings represent an opportunity to bless, serve, and help others. Like Esther we may be tempted to rationalize why those blessings are primarily for our benefit.

But we must resist that perspective. Like Esther we must step out in faith and recognize that God has put us in our current position for such a time as this and move forward with bold confidence that God will accomplish His will through us. We must set aside our personal interests and diligently seek the Lord’s guidance on how He would have us use the gifts, talents, and blessings He has bestowed on us. More often than not that will involve sacrifice, service, and selflessness. It may seem like Mission Impossible but with God all things are possible.

Faith

Corrective vs Judgmental: Distinctly Different Attitudes.

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It may surprise some readers to learn that the Bible both encourages and requires us to correct those practicing sin. More than that, it provides a blueprint for effective correction. The apostle Paul urges Timothy to “patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2b, NLT).

We, too, must exercise patience when correcting those overcome by sin and recognize that change is often a timely process. Because sin frequently prevents us from recognizing the damage it does to our lives we often resist the correction of others and even embrace outrageous excuses to rationalize our behavior. We rarely welcome corrective comments from friends and loved ones, no matter how well intentioned or helpful, because we prefer to remain in the mud, blithely unaware of or disinterested in the destructive path we are hurtling down.

On a separate occasion Paul offers succinct and instructive guidance to the Galatian church: “If another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are spiritual should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself” (Galatians 6:1, NLT). How we correct others makes all the difference. If we operate from a posture of self-righteousness or brash arrogance we accomplish nothing. Instead we are to correct in a spirit of gentleness and humility. That makes it much easier for the recipient to digest our counsel.

Such an approach accomplishes two things. First, it increases the likelihood the person we advise is receptive to correction – no one entertains condescending rebukes from those with smug dispositions. Second, it minimizes the risk we fall into the same or similar sin. Whenever pride taints our actions or motivations we place ourselves in a position of peril. Remember Solomon’s insight: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18, NKJV).

Keep in mind, though, that instances occur when a believer’s sin is so grievous or they are entangled so deeply that a gentle admonition is insufficient. Such cases require an urgent and forthright rebuke. Jude encourages us to make a distinction between the two. “On some have compassion,” he says, “but others save with fear, as if pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh” (Jude 1:22-23, NKJV). Of course determining when to act with bold urgency requires discernment. Absent guidance from the Holy Spirit we ought to avoid that approach.

Correcting someone overcome by sin is not easy; nor is it without risk. It is quite possible the person you rebuke, however gently and lovingly, severs his or her relationship with you. For that reason many conclude the effort is not worth it. But before you arrive at that conclusion I encourage you to listen to the words God gave the prophet Ezekiel. “When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand” (Ezekiel 3:18, NKJV). God holds us accountable when we fail to correct and rebuke those practicing sin.

In light of the Scriptural support for correcting those drowning in sin, why do so few of us do it? Many factors likely drive that decision but the most prominent is probably a desire to obey Jesus’ command, “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1, NKJV).

Judgment and correction are quite distinct, however. The former involves condemning the accused, executing a sentence, and administering punishment. It is the sole province of God. In contrast, correction seeks to restore the wrongdoer’s relationship with the Judge.

If you know a friend or loved one ensnared by sin, who is either unaware of their condition or disinterested in the consequences, won’t you take time this week to come alongside and gently correct them? That faithful act of love may do more than change their life; it may change yours as well.

Faith

A Biblical Model for Gratitude.

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As the nation sits down to enjoy a hearty feast this Thanksgiving, millions of households will offer God a prayer of thanks – some brief, others verbose; some exclusively on the meal before them; others on additional blessings. And while giving thanks before a meal is certainly commendable, Scripture encourages us to pursue an even deeper expression of gratitude.

Recall a familiar anecdote from Jesus’ ministry. As he makes his way toward Jerusalem he encounters ten lepers who cry out from a distance, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us” (Luke 17:13, NLT). Notice their plea includes an acknowledgement of his lordship over their lives. Jesus is moved by compassion. But instead of healing them immediately He instructs them to show themselves to the priest. As they respond in faith to that directive and make their way to the priest they are healed.

Joy overwhelms the men. A sense of gratitude swells inside them. Had Jesus walked by at that moment I have no doubt they would have heaped praise on him and thanked him for his mercy. But he didn’t.

So nine of the men move forward with life, too busy to seek Christ a second time and express their gratitude in person. Their behavior doesn’t reflect an ungrateful spirit; they simply were unwilling to go out of their way to demonstrate their gratitude. Except for one. One healed leper returns and with a loud voice praises Jesus. Only one falls at Christ’s feet to humbly thank the Master. Only one recognizes that the appropriate response to Christ’s blessing is wholehearted worship.

We witness an even more profound act of gratitude early in Jesus’ ministry. On encountering a demon-possessed man in the region opposite Galilee, Jesus casts out a legion of demonic spirits that tormented the man day and night. Following his delivery from that painful bondage, the man begs Jesus for permission to follow him.

But Jesus declines the request, telling the man, “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you” (Luke 8:39a, NKJV). In response to this, the man “proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.” Having experienced God’s restoration the man recognizes that the only proper response was committing his life to Christ, either by joining him full-time in his ministry or by serving as a bold witness in his community.

We, too, have been delivered from our bondage as slaves to sin, and have been restored into a right relationship with God through Jesus. So this Thanksgiving let’s express our gratitude with more than just a brief prayer at dinner. Instead, let’s follow the example modeled by the two men Christ healed. Let’s worship God with humble enthusiasm and boldly proclaim his work in our lives to those around us and around the world.

Faith

Lies We Believe.

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In Genesis’ account of original sin we learn a great deal about how Satan seeks to distort our understanding of God. Recall that in the Garden of Eden God created “all sorts of trees … that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit” (Genesis 2:9, NLT). He then places Adam in the garden and encourages him to “freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden – except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 16-17, NLT). God warns him that if he eats from that tree he is sure to die. In other words, enjoy My creation to the fullest but demonstrate your love for Me by obeying one simple command. Show that you trust Me to do what’s best for you.

What a remarkable arrangement. Nothing in recorded history approaches the generosity and splendor God offered. Adam will spend eternity enjoying the most succulent fruit imaginable and experience that pleasure daily without having to work a single second for it. It is an ideal situation that people from every generation and every culture crave.

But after God creates Eve from one of Adam’s ribs, Satan arrives on the scene in the guise of a serpent and reveals his nature as a cunning deceiver. [Remember that Jesus once called Satan the father of lies – see John 8:44]. Notice how he operates. Immediately he challenges Eve’s understanding of what God said, which she did not hear firsthand but learned from Adam. “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1 NLT).

He uses that same approach to distort Scripture with us: “Did Jesus really say ‘Come to Me and I will give you rest’?”; “Did He really say ‘Neither do I condemn you’?”; “Did He really say ‘Forsake all to be My disciple’?”

Whenever God plants truth in our heart or Scripture points us to Christ, you can be certain Satan will come alongside and whisper, “Did God really say that?” “Is that really what Scripture means?” In doing so he hopes to cast doubt on our faith so we question God’s words.

To combat Satan’s deceit we must diligently sow God’s Word in our hearts. Otherwise we risk making the same mistake as Adam and Eve when she misquotes God and declares they are not allowed to eat fruit from the tree of knowledge nor allowed to touch it. We make ourselves susceptible to Satan’s lies whenever we possess an ill-informed understanding of God’s character and His Word.

Satan then informs Eve that God has lied; they will not die if they eat the forbidden fruit. In doing so he makes a defamatory charge: they cannot believe God. He is unreliable and untrustworthy. Moreover, He does not have their best interests at heart and wants to withhold His best from them. The other trees are not nearly as satisfying as God claims. True fulfillment only comes from eating of the tree God has forbidden.

Satan makes similar arguments today and sadly many of us fall for them as easily as Adam and Eve did. God can’t be trusted nor does He want what’s best for us. His commands are burdensome, onerous, and prevent us from enjoying life to the full.

Take time this week to examine your life. Are there areas where you rejected God’s commands or His promises because you bought into Satan’s lies? I want to remind you that God is absolutely trustworthy. He cannot lie. And He always wants what’s best for us – even when that is not what we want for ourselves.

Faith

Orthodox Mouths – Fallow Hearts.

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Surveys generally estimate that the number of Christians in America exceeds half the population, and more than a third of those self-identify as born-again believers. Numerically, that translates into tens of millions of believers across the nation.

Attend any of our churches on any given Sunday and you will likely discover a congregation proficient at articulating biblically sound doctrine on the topic of salvation. We rightfully affirm that we are saved by faith alone and not of works. We emphasize the importance of having a personal relationship with Christ and proudly proclaim Him Lord and Savior. We have invited Jesus into our lives and insist we love Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Yet for an alarming number of us a surprising lack of evidence exists to support our claims. A careful examination of our lives exposes an unsettling disconnect between professed faith and practiced faith. Too many of us expound on matters of faith using sound doctrine while our lives mirror the world’s more than Christ’s. We have orthodox lips but fallow hearts, and honor God with our words while chasing selfish pursuits. Jesus criticized this form of Christianity as inauthentic and lukewarm; the kind that leads down the path of destruction, not to eternal life.

This disturbing contradiction does more than undermine the church’s effectiveness. It risks leaving millions of churchgoers facing eternal darkness. Why? Because God could care less how orthodox our doctrine is if our lives remain rooted in the flesh. Jesus repeatedly warned against falling into the trap of the Pharisees, who drew near to God with their mouths but whose hearts were far from Him. Their faith was a religious exercise that appeared vibrant and healthy on the outside but inside was full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Consequently, they worshiped God in vain.

If we genuinely love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and truly trust Christ as Savior and believe in our heart He is Lord, then a growing collection of evidence will corroborate those claims. Otherwise we are simply modern-day Pharisees, echoing churchy language and orthodox doctrine like it’s some magic mantra with the power to save.

Take time this week to examine your life and ask yourself a few questions.

1] Do I spend more time on entertainment and leisure than I do pursuing Christ?

2] Do I invest more of my income satisfying my desires than on furthering God’s agenda and advancing His will?

3] Has my heart undergone a total transformation so that my life looks increasingly like Christ’s or are the changes in my life largely superficial?

These are critical questions that deserve careful and thoughtful consideration. Ask God to reveal the truth and avoid answering the questions affirmatively to avoid the bigger issue: that an absence of compelling evidence may reveal an absence of authentic faith.

Faith

Transformational Treasure.

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It is impossible to overstate the value of studying God’s Word and the benefits accrued to those who do. For evidence of this we need look no further than the first verse of John’s account of the gospel where he tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1, NKJV). That doctrinally significant verse informs us that Jesus is both the Word and God.

Consequently, when we study Scripture we study the mind of Christ and the heart of God. We learn not only of God’s character, attributes, and ways, we encounter Him in a dynamic, meaningful, and personal manner. That encounter, in turn, changes lives and establishes transformational faith in the hearts of those who believe.

During His ministry Jesus linked immersion in God’s Word with authentic faith, telling His followers, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed” (John 8:31, NKJV). To fully appreciate Jesus’ statement we need to understand that abide indicates permanence and residence, and therefore means much more than an occasional or casual reading of God’s Word. Jesus is essentially telling His followers that those who reside and remain in His word truly believe.

Perhaps the most powerful description of Scripture is found in Hebrews. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12, NKJV).

We could discuss that verse for hours but let’s focus on that last clause for the moment. God’s Word detects and reveals the secret motivations and desires of our hearts. The importance of that truth becomes clear when we recall the insight of Jeremiah 17:9, which declares, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”

The heart constantly deceives. It convinces us our motives are pure when they are not. It insists we believe when we do not. It persuades us to view some Scripture through a selfish and worldly lens instead of under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Over and over it betrays us, peddling lies as truth and foolishness as wisdom. The antidote to such deception is found in God’s Word alone.

The psalmist identifies another benefit of scrutinizing Scripture when he proclaims, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you”(Psalm 119:11, NLT). As we plant and nurture God’s Word in our hearts we become more like Christ and quicken the process of sanctification.

The Lord weighs in on the matter with these words, spoken through Joshua, “Study this book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do” (Joshua 1:8, NLT). Notice the conditional statement. A meaningful and successful life does not exist without reading and reflecting on Scripture regularly – day and night.

How often do you study and meditate on Scripture? If you do not abide in God’s Word on a regular basis why not begin establishing that habit today? Outside of committing your life to Christ, no decision will change your life more or give it more meaning.

Faith

A Glimpse of Heaven.

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Most of us have some idea of what to expect when we arrive in heaven, though views are as varied as the people who hold them. Many anticipate an eternal reunion with friends, family, and loved ones. Others plan to spend eternity playing golf, relaxing on the beach, getting a deep tissue massage from some angelic host, or hiking, biking, and kayaking the heavenly outdoors.

On arriving in heaven many of us expect to enjoy the same activities we did in this world, but without the suffering, sorrow or stress associated with it. In essence, we believe heaven offers everything we liked on earth with none of its problems. But some of what we believe about heaven finds little support in Scripture and at times contradicts it.

While the entirety of heaven will remain a mystery until God calls us home, the Bible offers a brief glimpse into what we can expect. In particular the book of Revelation provides a few pieces to the puzzle. Here are some activities it records in heaven.

#1) Praising God: The apostle John declares that all angels, living creatures, and elders, who number in the hundreds of millions, sing throughout heaven, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12, NKJV). John later informs us that everyone in heaven praises God saying, “Blessing and honor and glory and power, be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13, NKJV). Praising God in speech and in song represents an integral part of the heavenly experience.

#2) Serving God: John states that God rewards the saints who “come out of the great tribulation” by allowing them to come into His presence and “serve Him day and night in His temple” (Revelation 7:14-15, NKJV). According to John, the reward for martyrdom is the opportunity to serve God daily. Later, in a detailed description of heaven and God’s presence he announces, “the Lamb shall be in it and His servants shall serve Him” (Revelation 22:3, NKJV). These verses reveal that serving God is a fundamental feature of heaven.

#3) Worshipping God: John portrays a scene around the throne of God and before the risen Savior in which “a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues” cry out with the angels, elders, and living creatures and “worshipped God” (Revelation 7:9-11, NKJV). Worship captures the essence of heaven. In fact, we observe all of heaven worshipping God numerous times in Revelation.

So how does heaven sound? Does the idea of praising, serving, and worshipping God for eternity excite, energize, and inspire you? I hope so, since those activities reflect a significant part of eternal life. As you head into the week consider this: we need not wait until heaven to prioritize these interactions with God. We can praise, serve, and worship Him today and every day of our lives – not just Sundays. In pursuing those activities, we not only enrich our relationship with the Lord, we also catch a glimpse of heaven.

Faith

A Spiritual Bucket List.

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Thousands of people created a bucket list following the release of the 2007 hit movie by the same name, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. For those unfamiliar with the film, the bucket list represented a collection of activities and experiences two terminally ill characters wanted to enjoy before their pending deaths. Only the most extreme, adventurous, and extraordinary undertakings made the list; nothing was run-of-the-mill.

For example, they don’t just visit the Great Wall of China; they ride motorcycles on it. They don’t just visit historical sites of local significance; they travel to India and Egypt to admire the Taj Mahal and the Great Pyramids. They don’t settle for visiting a regional peak to climb; they journey to the base of Mount Everest. I could go on but you get the point.

Imagine how much we could impact our communities, nation, and world, if Christians pursued a similar exercise with our faith – a spiritual bucket list, if you will. Only distinctly Christian activities would qualify – those that draw us closer to Christ, advance His kingdom, or fulfill His will. Similar to activities on the secular bucket list, these undertakings would require a significant commitment of time and resources, and involve a degree of adventure, discipline, and courage. Such a process would certainly stretch our faith.

Of course, you should pray for God’s guidance as you create the list. In fact, this exercise might open your heart and eyes to an assignment (or two) God has communicated in the past but you were too busy or distracted to hear. Here are ten possibilities to stimulate your creative juices and ignite your imagination. No doubt readers will think of hundreds more.

1) Memorize an entire chapter of the Bible.

2) Worship with believers in an under-developed country.

3) Spend one summer of your retirement volunteering with an organization that fulfills the Great Commission or meets basic human needs.

4) Start an orphanage overseas.

5) Throw a lavish dinner for the homeless and destitute in your community. Make it an annual event.

6) Share the good news of Jesus with one thousand people and follow-up with them to answer questions and offer encouragement.

7) Fast one day a week on behalf of the persecuted church, an unreached people group, or for revival in this country.

8) Spend your vacation in an area hostile to Christianity and encourage local believers with your presence.

9) Donate twenty percent of your 401(k) this year to fund evangelism efforts in places where Christ’s love and sacrifice are unknown. Then travel to those places and participate in the sponsored activities.

10) Shift careers to work for a Christian or non-profit organization in desperate need of your God-given talents.

Take time this week to begin creating your spiritual bucket list. Add to the list as the Lord lays on your heart more extraordinary activities and assignments. Put the list in a conspicuous place to keep it top of mind. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Act with the same urgency the characters in the movie did to fulfill each item on their list. And don’t be afraid to include activities that seem too enormous, ridiculous, or farfetched. Those are exactly the types of undertakings God honors.

Faith

Jesus’ Least Popular Warning More Relevant Than Ever.

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One of the gravest warnings Jesus issued during His ministry involved the dangers of greed and materialism. “Take heed and beware of covetousness,” He said, “for one’s life does not consist of the abundance of things he possesses” (Luke 12:15, NKJV). Jesus’ admonition addresses one of the dominant themes of Scripture, and seems tailor-made for a nation inundated by avarice and unbridled consumerism. But in a strange twist of irony it is one of the least sermonized subjects on Sunday.

Perhaps that’s no surprise. After all, we don’t consider ourselves covetous. No matter how many possessions we acquire, how selfishly we spend our income, how quickly we pursue the latest technology, or how much stuff we consume, we insist that Christ’s warning does not apply to us. We explain away any apparent contradiction by declaring that our hearts belong to Christ and therefore we’re free from a spirit of materialism. Our possessions cannot be idols because we profess Jesus as Lord. Therefore no matter how much stuff we accumulate it’s never sin.

But these excuses reveal more about our ability to rationalize then they do about the absence of covetousness in our lives. We have become adept at gaming the system of God’s admonitions. We convince ourselves that rabid consumerism constitutes sin only if it supplants Christ as Lord, and since that never happens we continue to pursue the things of the world without trepidation.

Our expertise at justifying such idolatry threatens our spiritual vitality and dulls our ability to identify the rampant materialism in our lives. What results are lives with divided loyalties – committed to Christ in principle but intoxicated with the world in practice. Our profession of love for the Lord is starkly contrasted by the wild-eyed enthusiasm with which we chase the things of this world.

Jesus tackled this subject early in His ministry and left no room for ambiguity. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and riches” (Matthew 6:24, NKJV). We nod in agreement with Jesus’ assertions. They produce no angst because we see no battle being waged for our allegiance, our love, or our souls. We make no effort to validate our claim that Jesus is the object of our love, service, and devotion.

But Jesus anticipated the ease with which we would enthrone idols in our heart and the casualness with which we would deny their existence. So He tackled that subject as well. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21, NKJV). That succinct statement slices through the noise and exposes our duplicity. Irrespective of what we say about the heart’s affections, it always lies with our treasures.

It is easy to say we treasure Jesus and our relationship with Him. But what do our checkbooks identify as our true treasure? What do our calendars point to as our real treasure? And what would our colleagues at work say we treasure? If Jesus really is our treasure shouldn’t every area of life reflect His presence and Lordship?

We can no longer afford to ignore this epidemic. It’s time we expose its existence in our hearts, our churches, and our nation. We are covetous – as a body and as individuals – and that spirit of covetousness is weakening our witness in the community, undermining our effectiveness for the Lord, and often revealing an absence of faith altogether (though not the absence of religion – for religion thrives where covetousness goes unchecked).

To remedy this spiritual contagion we must recognize that it is insufficient to simply quit acquiring stuff, stop spending lavishly on ourselves, and refrain from pursuing the world’s treasures with wild abandon. Our greed and materialism are symptoms of a much larger problem and are not the entirety of the problem themselves. The real problem at the root of our covetousness is our failure to abide in Christ.

Amidst our pursuit of pleasure, products, and merchandise we have lost our first love. Our hearts and our attention have been captured by the lures of this world and we no longer seek the presence of Christ regularly. To resolve our idolatry, then, we must pursue Him with passion. It is only as we rekindle the flame of affection for Jesus that our burning desire for worldly treasure grows dim. It is only then that we fulfill our purpose in this world and grow to resemble our Lord and Savior.

Faith

God’s Grace.

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One of Jesus’ most powerful parables is also one of the most well known: the story of the prodigal son. In terms of offering hope nothing matches the incredible story of God’s redemption and grace.

You may recall that the younger of the father’s two sons demanded his inheritance before his father died. It was an audacious and arrogant ultimatum but one the father agreed to honor. Upon receipt of his share of the estate, the son sets off for a foreign land where he quickly squanders the funds on riotous living. Destitute and starving, he lands a menial job feeding swine. For a young Jewish boy nothing could be more humiliating. He had hit rock bottom.

In time he comes to his senses and decides to return home. Certain his behavior has permanently severed the relationship with his dad, the son develops a narrative he hopes earns his dad’s mercy: “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” (Luke 15:18-19, NLT).

The son believes his father loves him conditionally. As long as he acts uprightly, honors the family name, and doesn’t rebel, his father will love him. But any shameful or inappropriate behavior will cause that love to cease. In light of his debauchery the son concludes his dad no longer considers him family. His only hope lies in offering to work as a servant.

Does that reflect your view of God? Have you failed Him in the past and now believe He no longer loves you? Has a lifetime of rebellious behavior led you to conclude you can never be part of God’s family? Do you share the prodigal son’s view that you have to earn God’s mercy or that His forgiveness is conditioned on acts of contrition? If so, you’re going to love the rest of this story.

As the son approaches home his dad sees him and races out to greet him with hugs and kisses. Awash with joy, the father ignores the entreaty his son has rehearsed and instead tells the servants to bring a luxurious robe, the family ring, and comfortable sandals for his son to wear. What’s more, he instructs the staff to kill the prized calf and prepare a feast. It’s time to celebrate! What a remarkable contrast to the reception the prodigal son expected.

Jesus’ point could not be clearer. God loves unconditionally. Nothing we do – no sin, no act of rebellion – can separate us from His love. Equally comforting is the fact that we do not have to work our way back into God’s favor. He extends mercy to all who ask and does not insist we earn it.

Have you avoided God because you assumed He wouldn’t want you? Have you languished in despair over the idea that too much evil has flowed from your heart to earn God’s grace? Have you avoided committing your life to Christ because you believe He only calls the righteous? Well take heart. None of that is true.

God’s mercy and forgiveness await all who come. Like the father in the parable, He stands ready to receive you and enthusiastically awaits your arrival. Isn’t it time to take that journey?