Glenda and I had the day off as Pastor Bruce Lungren filled in for me at CC Richmond. We decided attend the service at CC Langley and catch up with some old friends we hadn’t seen in a while. I also wanted to catch up with Chris Bryant who’s been working hard on our new website.
After worship, friends of ours, Charlie & Kristen Northup, dedicated to the Lord their new baby boy William. It’s always a special time when a child is dedicated to the Lord. It reminds me of the awesome responsibility we have to raise our children in the ways of God according to the Word of God.
Then Brent taught on Luke 15:11 – 32, the story of the Prodigal Son. Here was a young man who squandered his father’s wealth on sinful living until he ran out of money and out of friends and wound up feeding pigs. He was so hungry that even the pigs food looked good to him, but no one would give him any. Realizing that even his father’s servants were better off than he currently was, he decided to return to his father and ask for forgiveness in the hopes that his father would hire him.
When he returned he found that his father was waiting for him, not to chastise him, but to welcome him back with open arms and compassion. The father said, “My son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”
What a wonderful paralel to how our heavenly Father receives us. Many of us have squandered the Father’s wealth in sinful living, doing what we want rather than being obedient to God. If we turn from our ways and simply ask God to forgive us, He will. The Bible says the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.–Romans 6:23
If you’ve wandered away from the Lord, or perhaps you’ve never known God but want to, why don’t you take a moment right now and say to God what the Prodigal son said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son, forgive me.” If you do this you will find that your heavenly Father is quick to forgive. He will put His arms around you and say, “This child of mine was dead, but is alive again; he was lost but now is found.”
If you’ve prayed that prayer why don’t you drop me a note and tell me about it. I’d love to send you some materials that will help you know God better.
