New Believer's Bible Sample - Flipbook - Page 12
H ow You C an K now G od
page A14
And how does the father in Jesus’ story react to his returning prodigal? Listen
again to Jesus:
When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, “At home even the
hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!
I will go home to my father and say, ‘Father, I have sinned against both
heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please
take me on as a hired servant.’”
So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his
father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son,
embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, “Father, I have sinned
against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called
your son.”
But his father said to the servants, “Quick! Bring the finest robe in the
house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And
kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this
son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he
is found.” So the party began. (Luke 15:17-24)
Notice that the father accepted his son just as he was. Even without a bath!
In the same way, God receives us as we are. Jesus said, “Those the Father has
given me will come to me, and I will never reject them” (John 6:37) and, “Come
to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you
rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Perhaps you say, “I need to clean up my life before I come to God.” God
effectively says, “No, you need to come to me, and I will clean up your life.”
Notice that Jesus says the father ran to the son. Understand that in this
ancient culture, it was considered undignified for an older man to run. (It was
hard, too!) Yet the father pulled his beautiful robe up above his knees and
sprinted to his son.
You may have walked away from God, but he has not walked away from you.
In fact, he will run to you if you will turn back to him. Just like the father of the
Lost Son, God will see you coming, even if you are still a long way off.
So, what do you need to do in order to
come into a close relationship with God?
