Have you at some point in your life put your faith in what Jesus has done for you and enjoyed a close relationship with God, but right now you feel distant from God?
Can you relate to one or more of the following?
– You have turned your back on God and decided to go it alone
– Life and circumstances have got in the way and distracted you away from God
– You are disappointed in God
– God is no longer important to you
– You doubt if God is real
– You doubt if God would accept you because of what you have done
– You feel ashamed
– You feel lonely
– You feel like you are searching for something, but you don’t know what it is, you feel unsettled
– Your experience of God feels like a wistful memory…a ‘once upon a time’
– You have not yet experienced the presence and love of God for yourself
I am reminded of the story of the prodigal son in the Bible. The prodigal son lived with his father, but decided that living away from his father would be much better, so he left his father, squandered his money (time, skills, life), until he was at a place of desperation, fending for himself, lonely, disappointed, doubtful, ashamed, unsettled. He remembered the times he had spent with this father, where he was loved, provided for, treated as a son, part of a family, and where even the father’s servants were better off than he was now. He decided to return to his father to ask if he could be treated like one of his servants because he didn’t feel he deserved to be treated as a son.
So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:20-24)
The father in the story of the prodigal son is a representation of our Heavenly Father, God.
When he was still a long way from home, his father saw him – your Father God sees you, knows your motives and knows when you decide to turn to him. He is waiting for you.
His father was filled with compassion for him – it doesn’t matter what you have done, your Father God loves you and is filled with compassion for you.
His father ran to his son – your Father God comes to meet you, he is eager to greet you, he doesn’t wait until you have crossed a certain threshold, he meets you where you are.
His father threw his arms around him and kissed him – your Father God will embrace you, welcome you, accept you, show you he loves you before you have even said a word.
HIs father forgave the son – your Heavenly Father will forgive you of everything, you may not feel worthy, but God forgives.
His father instated him as his son – just like the prodigal son, your Heavenly Father will lavish on you the title, honour and position of being a son or daughter of God when you put your faith in Him. God will certainly be celebrating. You are not ‘just another person’, you are cherished, known and loved by God. God will consider you who were lost, to be found.
At some point, we have all been, and may still be, a prodigal son or daughter…far from God by our own choice. Just like the story Jesus told in the Bible about the prodigal son, God your Heavenly Father is waiting to come and meet you, welcome you, embrace you, show you his love and compassion for you, forgive you and instate you as his son or daughter.
It is your choice to turn to him…
For more information refer to the blog post Entering into Relationship with God
0 Comments