Forgiveness Devo - Luke 15: 11-32

March 10th, 2019

Devotional

“Forgiveness” - Luke 15: 11-32

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Monday: “The Parable” - Luke 15: 11-32

  How many of us have heard the parable of the prodigal son before? How many of us remember when Jesus told this story? Not as many. This story takes place after Jesus is having yet another run in with the pharisees about his table practices. The religious leaders accused Jesus of eating with sinners - and this parable was his response.

  The parable of the prodigal son is one that we have probably engaged countless times - in devotions, Sunday School, and sermons. I know I have over the years. But the story keeps speaking. Keeps inviting us in. When I was in college, chapel attendance was required. After years of chapel services three times a week they would seem to blend together after a while, but I still remember a series where the preacher looked at this parable three separate days from different perspectives - the father, the older son, and the younger son. I have a colleague who once preached this sermon to college students from the perspective of the pig farmer who hired the younger son, and that stuck with me as well.

This parable is powerful because it invites us to examine our lives from different perspectives and check in on our relationship with ourself, others, and God. To the ancient hearer before we even get into the part of the story that we so often like to celebrate in church, about the younger son returning how, they would have been shocked. Shocked at the younger son’s crass request. Shocked that the older son looked on and said nothing. Shocked that the father actually gave the son his inheritance early without a word!

What continues to surprise you about this parable?

Prayer: God, invite us into this parable anew this week we pray. Open up our hearts to receive what you may have for us, and invite us to examine our own lives through it, all for your honor and glory. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Inheritance” - Luke 15: 11-14

  I have questions about the Prodigal Son, identified in today’s Scripture as simply the younger son. Did he know what he was doing when he told his father, while he was still living, to give him the property that belonged to him. Did he realize how rude he was being? That he was essentially saying ‘I don’t want to wait until you’ve died to get what’s coming to me’? It’s a dishonorable request in any day and time. 

Then the younger son wanted an adventure. He liquidated the property he was given and spent the money in any way imaginable. He traveled far away and spent the money on “dissolute living” until the famine came. Until he realized that he didn’t have a plan or any money. Or a family. It was fun while it lasted but now the fun was over. 

Tell of a time when you did not think through the consequences of your actions. How did it hurt other people or God?

Prayer: God, we confess that we are a fickle people. Our impatience often results in us trampling on the feelings of other people and rushing into sin, even if we do not realize it at the time. Forgive us, O Lord. Help us to seek to do good and do no harm in all that we do and say. Amen.

Wednesday: “Famine” - Luke 15: 15-21

The famine hits and the younger son is left in the most uncomfortable position - penniless, working with pigs, which would have been unheard of at the time, as the listeners to Jesus would have considered them unclean. This was rock bottom. And as often comes with rock bottom, clarity starts to emerge. The younger son thinks that even the hired help at his father's house has it better than this - so he needs to go back home and beg for a job. Not beg to be reinstated as a son, but beg to simply be the hired help. 

What does rock bottom look like for us brothers and sisters? What causes us to realize that we’ve screwed up and strayed from God? What makes us go back into the arms of God’s grace?

What are the things in your life that have called you back to God?

Prayer: Almighty God, we thank you for both the peaks and valleys in our lives and the knowledge in our hearts that you never leave us nor forsake us. Even when we wonder off, you invite us back, continually. Use ever moment in our lives to connect us to your grace, truth, and love we pray. Amen. 

Thursday: “Home” - Luke 15: 22-24

Priest and author Henri Nouwen in his book The Return of the Prodigal Son, says that so often we focus on this story from the perspective of the younger son and how he screwed up (maybe because we can identify with that as people who go astray), but really at the heart of this parable is the message of a forgiving and loving God the welcomes us back in ways far better than we deserve.

For as the younger son approached home the father came running out to him. He showed acts of reconciliation, offering to the son fine robes and rings and sandals. He even threw the younger son a party because he was so overjoyed! 

How do you celebrate when people who once were lost become found?

Prayer: God, thank you for seeking after us, even when we stray. May we join in the Heavenly celebration when people come to know you as Lord and Savior and come home! Amen! Amen! Amen!

Friday: “Older Son” - Luke 15: 25-32

  This Parable was told by Jesus when he was charged with fellowshipping around the table, partying if you will, with those that the Pharisees deemed to be sinners. Do you get what Jesus was trying to say? That it’s not for us to judge who is beyond God’s forgiveness and grace. It is not for us to judge who is welcomed into the Kingdom of God. The Pharisees were acting as if they had been snubbed because Jesus was eating with the sinners instead of them, as if the presence of those they didn’t like kept them from being at the table. But the truth is, God gives us all more than we deserve. God welcomes us back, if we have a repentant heart. God let’s us start anew, seeking after a purity of heart, and God rejoices in that. Let us rejoice too, when the lost ones, including our very selves, come home to the family of God. 

Who do you identify with most in this parable? Why?

Prayer: God, break open our heard hearts when we act like the older son. Allow your grace to seep into us and transform us - transform the way we see others. Let us seek after your heart, anew, we pray. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic to prepare for worship: “Self-Examination” - Psalm 51 and Psalm 139.