LUKE 15:11-32 ESV 11
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found
THE PAST, THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE
THE PAST
How true is the adage: “Time waits for no man.” The common explanation verifies the fact that no man has the power to control time. Man is subject to time. No person ever determined their birth, nor their death.
Concerning the Past, it is often that our Past haunts us, or as others may say it catches up with us. Our Past often has a strangle hold over us, for the simple truth we had done things that we are ashamed of. We had hurt people whom we loved; we also have hurt those we despised. We, worried for we had sown to the wind and we are anxious, worried and afraid that the tornados, hurricanes and whirlwinds of life is going to catch up on us.
The past must be dealt with; it cannot be ignored. Relationships must be mended. Forgiveness must be sought. The sad fact is that with our abilities we cannot right the wrongs. There must be a way forgiveness and restitution may be experienced.
Just where do we begin in the process of Forgiveness and Reconciliation. The process begins with the guilty party, the offender. The letter A is the very first letter of the alphabet. In like manner A for Acknowledgement is the first letter in the process of Forgiveness and Reconciliation.
In no way are we to blame the Offended for our failure. We must take cognizance of our failure. We must admit and confess. Three important steps when followed in chronological order (step by step) determine our Forgiveness and Reconciliation:
STEP 1: Acknowledge your sin against the Offended.
STEP 2: Acknowledge not only have you sinned against the Offended, you have also sinned against God. Forgiveness and Restitution is Twofold: Man, and God.
STEP 3: Once Acknowledgement is determined move toward the Offended. Go seeking Forgiveness and Reconciliation. Do not delay your action. Procrastination is the thief of time. Not acting immediately often leads to prolonging the necessary action and it will finally rob you of the opportunity of ridding yourself of your deep hurt of not reconciling with the Offended.
THE PRESENT
Is it possible to live in our Past? Is it possible that our Past can live in our Present State and even in our Future State? The answers are most definitely Yes. How is this possible? Unconfessed sin and making no effort toward Reconciliation will live with us if we do not Acknowledge, Confess, Repent and Reconcile. How often have we laid awake unable to sleep because our sins toward our fellow man and God haunt us. How often have we avoided those who we sinned against. Our spirits are scarred with unconfessed sins against our fellow man.
THE FUTURE
No doubt our Past has the power to determine our Present and Future. Our Present State has the Power to determine our Present State and Future State void of our Past with all its horrible Sins and Failure. The Word of God shows us how we may once again live a life void of condemnation and self-guilt. All we must do is confess our sins of the Past and Present States, repent thereof and even when we seek reconciliation with the Offended and they will not forgive us, nor reconcile with us, God in His wondrous mercy will forgive us and praise God though our sins had separated us from God, we will be Reconciled to God, our Heavenly Father.
The Prodigal Son followed The Three Steps of Forgiveness and Reconciliation: ➢ He Acknowledge his sin. ➢ He Acknowledged the fact that he had sinned against Heaven and his Father ➢ He went to his father seeking Forgiveness and Reconciliation.
His loving Father forgave him and done four special things to make his son feel wanted, loved and forgiven. ➢ Clothed his son with a new robe ➢ Put a Ring on his finger ➢ Put new shoes on his feet ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And thereafter they had a party. The Bible tells us that all have sinned and have come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). There is none who are righteous. We all had sinned. We squandered a God good given life on Sin. We found ourselves. in the pig sty of sin. But praise God today we acknowledge our sin , we are coming back to God, seeking Forgiveness and Reconciliation not only with God but also with our fellow man whom we had also sinned against. God is allowing us to take off the garments of sin and to be clothed with a garment of righteousness, just as if we had not sinned. God is placing a spiritual ring on our finger symbolizing the emblem of the family of God—for as many as receive Him, Jesus Christ, we become the sons and daughters of God. Last and not least our feet are going to shod with the gospel of Peace. No more are we going to run to the places where we sinned , now we are going to go to the house of The Lord.
OUR PRAYER: Father God we are tormented with our Past. And God because we are constantly reminded of our Sins and Failures our Present State is void of Peace. Therefore, we come to You, our Heavenly Father asking for forgiveness, wash us in the blood of Jesus that He shed on The Cross of Calvary. Write our names in The Book of Life and please God lay upon the hearts of those whom we sinned against a forgiving spirit that we may be Reconciled. We pray this prayer in Jesus name, Amen
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