S)"18 I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.' 20 So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'"
Luke 15:18-21 (NASB)
O) The Prodigal Son is a fairly famous story, or at least most people know the term and a general idea of what the story is. This is an element that I'd never noticed before today, though. In v.18, the son intends to go to his father, confess to him, and apologize in humility. And when the son returns, the father famously runs to greet him with hugs and kisses. What really jumped off the page today, was that the son still told his father everything he had intended to say. Even though his father was clearly not angry, and was even joyful at his sight, the son was still remorseful and still bore the responsibility for his actions. He still acknowledged his unworthiness, and didn't shrink back from the difficult task of discussing his mistakes.
A) I don't think people should dwell on their mistakes after repenting. I have been overcome by guilt, after repentence, and I don't believe that's from God. After repentence, God forgives and He doesn't hold it against us anymore. Sometimes, though, that lulls me into a place where I will not exactly acknowledge a problem I've had. It has happened that, after sinning, repenting, and being forgiven, I have felt the responsibility to talk to some one that my sin may have affected, but in my head I'll rationalize that God has forgiven me, that I'm no longer guilty, and therefore I do not need to talk about my mistake or sin. That is false. God forgives me when I confess to Him, but sometimes I need to confess to the people I have wronged. If I'm being prideful and arrogant, and I say something that offends some one, I can repent and have God forgive me, but I need to take responsibility and still apologize to the person I offended. Furthermore, if I'm struggling with a sin over and over, yes God will forgive each time (as long as I'm truly struggling, i.e., still fighting to stop sinning in it), but there is also wisdom in confessing to a brother in Christ so that I can receive prayer, counsel, and healing.
P) Father, give me courage to take responsibility and speak up when I know I've wronged some one. I know that it's a rare sin that only affects me, and not another person in some way. Help me to see when my sins hurt others, and strengthen me to apologize to them also, and ask for their forgiveness too. Holy Spirit, alert me to all of my sins from which I still need to repent, especially those that harm others around me. Forgive me, God, In Jesus' name. Thank You for grace and mercy, LORD. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
P) Father, give me courage to take responsibility and speak up when I know I've wronged some one. I know that it's a rare sin that only affects me, and not another person in some way. Help me to see when my sins hurt others, and strengthen me to apologize to them also, and ask for their forgiveness too. Holy Spirit, alert me to all of my sins from which I still need to repent, especially those that harm others around me. Forgive me, God, In Jesus' name. Thank You for grace and mercy, LORD. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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