The Father's House

This devotional considers Luke 15:11-24.

Sometimes, we judge and condemn ourselves to a life without the Lord (to different degrees) because what we have done is so egregious in our eyes. One of the hardest things to do is forgive ourselves, especially when we think we should have known better.

Thinking about the prodigal son helps us to see the ways we go about punishing ourselves for wrongdoing instead of just running to our Lord without hesitation. First, the prodigal son condemned himself and placed himself at the mercy of others. The Bible says After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. That was his window to turn around and go home. But many things stand in our way, like pride, shame, unforgiveness and more. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. Punishment—it’s when you have the wealth of mercy in the Father’s house to go back to and choose the paltry mercy of strangers instead. 

Next, He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. Living in any kind of shame, much more protracted shame is not God’s heart for any of his children. The Bread of Life is our food. Why would any of us come to long for anything else and allow ourselves to be so mistreated? The prodigal son devalued himself so much that he became less than the animals he was caring for—he was not even worthy of their food.

Finally, the prodigal son did decide to go back, but by saying, I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants. Sigh. Let’s skip ahead to his father’s response to his return. 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. There’s more, but let’s hold onto that for now. While the prodigal son was busy designing his new role as relegated son in his father’s house, his father was watching and waiting, watching and waiting, watching and waiting for his son to come back home—the unwise son who never lost his place in his heart. God doesn’t require us to view ourselves as unworthy to be received by him again. Just turn around and you’ll find a compassionate and elated Lord who ignores your self-condemnation to robe you. Read it yourself. 

There is, in our lives as believers, a continual turning and moving towards the Lord—repentance—in different areas of our lives. There is one time of salvation, but many times of returning and rest. Let us believe the Father’s heart today. His arms, and all his house are always open for us to come back to. 

Amen.