I Was Lost But Now I Am found

Luke 15:11-24 MSG

[11-12a] Then he said, “There was once a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, ‘Father, I want right now what’s coming to me.’ [12b-16] “So the father divided the property between them. It wasn’t long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to feel it. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corn-cobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any. [17-20a] “That brought him to his senses. He said, ‘All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death. I’m going back to my father. I’ll say to him, Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.’ He got right up and went home to his father. [20b-21] “When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: ‘Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son ever again.’ [22-24] “But the father wasn’t listening. He was calling to the servants, ‘Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a prize-winning heifer and roast it. We’re going to feast! We’re going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!’ And they began to have a wonderful time.

Some years ago, I drifted away from God. I gave in to temptation, which caused my soul to mourn. It hurt me and the people who thought I was a true friend. On that day, I didn’t know where to go. I had nowhere to turn. I felt like garbage and lost. I fell again; that’s what I said, and I broke the heart of God. But then, out of that misery I felt, I still ran to God. And He said, “You are my daughter, and you are forgiven.” Just like in the story of the prodigal son, he also drifted away, and later, when everything he had was gone, he came back to his father. The father was so happy and embraced him wholeheartedly.

What the prodigal son felt at that time, I also felt. I thought God would never forgive me, but He did. He is happy that I came back, from darkness to light. He embraced me for who I am.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your grace and mercy toward us, especially for your unconditional love. No matter how far and lost we are, you are there waiting for us to come back. Forgive us for not listening to you and for doing our own will. Help us, God, in times of temptation, and keep us away from the things that will lead us away from you. Strengthen us and always guide us.This we asked is Jesus’ name. AMEN!