The great homecoming

Read > Luke 15:11-32

Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son (vv. 18-19).

There are few turnarounds in the Bible as amazing as that of the prodigal son in Luke 15. He had squandered all that his father had given him on fast living, and he ended up with the pigs, fighting for scraps. But his father’s undeserved generosity changed things dramatically. From the trough to the head of the table, from pea pods to fattened calf, from pig-feeder to adored son, from dressed in rags to adorn in robes.

In yesterday’s devotional article, we considered the rejoicing in heaven that occurs when someone receives salvation. Joy also lit up the father’s face when his son returned. Arms flung wide, he ran as fast as he could, overcome with happiness that the son he feared to be lost had returned (v. 20). That’s a truly beautiful image. And such is God’s joy when someone earnestly echoes the words of the lost son, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son” (vv. 18-19).

The brilliant truth is that this type of turnaround isn’t only reserved for a parable in the Bible – Jesus wants it to be the greatest turnaround of our lives! But it’s a change that requires us to confess our undeserving state, and to admit we’ve spurned our heavenly Father’s love. Whether we’ve lived blatantly rebellious lives, like the younger son, or have always been outwardly obedient, like the older son, we all need to turn back to God.

This parable is a picture of the grace of God, a grace that lavishes us with so much more than we deserve. How gracious of God that He should allow us to enter His kingdom! How good of Jesus to tell us how to turn back to God! How great the debt of gratitude we owe Him! – Jon Lindsay

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“The time promised by God has come at last!” He announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” (Mark 1:15).

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How can you live out the joy brought by God’s grace? What can you do to remember the turnaround in your life?