TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
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. Luke 15:20
Read: Luke 15:11-32
Listen: Luke 15
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Jesus tells a story that any listener would’ve thought absurd. It’s about a son who dishonors his family, and yet his father runs out to meet him when he returns home. Every part of the story goes against their cultural norms. The son disgraces the family but is welcomed home. Dishonoring one’s family was one of the worst things you could do. But the father doesn’t just welcome him home. He runs out to greet him. If you were a person of age and wealth, you didn’t run anywhere. You slowly sauntered, and people waited for you to arrive. When Jesus tells this story, it is likely the crowd gasped at the unexpected turn of events.
Two thousand years later, the story has probably lost its awe factor for us. It can be easy to expect God’s grace and take it for granted. It’s like God’s grace has stopped being amazing and started sounding pretty common. But the grace God offers is not only remarkable—it also cost God. The price was the torture and humiliation Jesus endured, culminating with his death on the cross. It should amaze us that God would do that for us. Watch this video clip as Pastor Jeff Manion shares how this should help us forgive others when they hurt us.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
When you get to the line about forgiveness in your 40 Days of Prayer, reflect on what forgiveness costs God. Consider how crazy it is that God loves you enough to die on your behalf. Thank God for paying the cost of your forgiveness.
40 DAYS OF PRAYER
Join us for 40 DAYS OF PRAYER where all of us will find a quiet space and slowly read The Lord’s Prayer. May forty days of praying like Jesus prayed, and desiring what Jesus wanted, make a big difference in our hearts and our communities.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN
Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.
Today’s reading is Acts 4.
