| TODAY'S SCRIPTURE "The father said to his servants, "Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." And they began to be merry." (Luke 15:22-24)
TODAY'S WORD , have you ever searched for something only to discover that it was there the whole time, right underneath your nose? If so, you have a lot in common with the Prodigal Son from Jesus' parable in Luke 15. The parable tells of a young man who left his father's house in an attempt to find fulfillment in the things he thought would make him happy. Apparently from the young man's actions, he believed nice clothes, fine food, and big parties would bring him happiness.
It's noteworthy that after the Prodigal Son lost all he had and returned to his father's house, he realized that everything he was looking for in life was at home. What did the father do when the prodigal son returned? He said, "Bring out the best robe . . . and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet" (Luke 15:22). Essentially he gave his son nice clothes. "Bring the fatted calf here," the father said (verse 23). He gave his son fine food. "Let us eat and be merry," he exclaimed (verse 23). He threw his son a big party. That's what the prodigal wanted. Everything he desired in life was in a relationship with his father.
Christians find that to be true as well. Everything that we need in life to be happy, everything that we need for true fulfillment is found in a relationship with God the Father.
A PRAYER FOR YOU TODAY God, the author of all good, I come to You for the grace another day will require for its duties and events. I step out into a wicked world; I carry about with me an evil heart. I know that without You I can do nothing, that everything with which I shall be concerned, however harmless in itself, may prove an occasion of sin or folly, unless I am kept by Your power. Hold me up O God and I shall be safe. Preserve my understanding from subtlety of error, my affections from love of idols, my character from stain of vice, my profession from every form of evil. May I engage in nothing in which I cannot implore Your blessing, and in which I cannot invite Your inspection. Prosper me in all lawful undertakings, or prepare me for disappointments. Teach me how to use the world and not abuse it, to improve my talents, to redeem my time, to walk in wisdom toward those without, and in kindness to those within, to do good to all men, and especially to my fellow Christians. And to You, O God, be the glory, Amen. |
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