The Prodigal Son Returned… Celebration!

   This is the rest of the story Jesus told of a returned prodigal son…(see yesterday’s devotional for the first part).
Luke 15:17-24 (paraphrased)
  A younger son was making a living feeding hogs in a smelly pigpen in a “distant country”.   He had squandered all his inheritance and had come to this sorry mess.
  As he was feeding those hogs, he thought about his father’s servants…they were eating enough bread to satisfy them and he was hungry!  He hit the bottom of depression, he was destitute and dying in that “distant country”.
  He thought about what he needed to do…and he did it!  He hurried to his father’s home to become a hired man to his father.  He spoke as soon as he saw his father, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” (Luke 15:21 NASB)

  Perhaps you are like that son…you also can choose to return to God the Father of the Bible…you also can recognize that you are a sinner and your need of His forgiveness. 
You also can make that honest assessment and admit your sins to God the Father.  He will forgive and receive you…

  When the father saw his son from a long way off, he ran (yes, ran) to embrace his son and to give his son his love.
  The father then told his bond servants…get the robe of honor for my son, give him a ring to wear and sandals for his feet.  Kill that calf that is fattened for slaughter and let’s have a party!  A Celebration!

(NASB) Luke 15:24 “for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found…”

  You are also loved by the God of the Holy Bible…oh, how He loves you!

Who?  You
What?  You are a sinner in need of God’s forgiving love
When?  Anytime you choose to turn back to God the Father
Where? Wherever you have willfully chosen to go away from God you can choose to turn toward God
Why?   God is ready, willing and able to forgive you through your faith in His Son to save you from your sins. [John 3:16 NASB “For God so loved (your name here) the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever (your name) believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”]
How?  God welcomes repentant sinners with compassion and Celebration! through their belief in His Son as Savior.