The parable of the prodigal son has much to show us about God’s incredible love and forgiveness (Luke 15:11-32). In this parable the younger of two sons asked his father for his share of what would eventually be his inheritance. The
son then travelled far away and wasted his wealth on licentious living, winding up in poverty. With a repentant heart he headed home. His father had been waiting and watching for the return of his wayward son and greeted him not with chiding and criticism, but with great compassion, forgiveness and rejoicing. The elder son was not impressed with his brothers return and could only respond with loveless judgmentalism.
The sins of the prodigal son damaged his relationship with his father. Before anyone becomes a Christian sin separates them from God (). However, like the father of the prodigal our heavenly Father waits patiently for people to repent and ask Him into to their lives so He can forgive them and lavish His love and compassion on them. There is great joy in heaven when someone gives their life to Jesus (Luke 15:7). However, like the Prodigal son’s elder brother, not everyone on earth will cheer when someone comes home and gives their life to God. Such critics need to experience our heavenly Father’s unconditional love (1 Cor 13:4-7) and understand that His desire is for all to be saved and none to be lost (1 Tim 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). As Christians we can recall when we were separated from our heavenly Father. Pray for anyone you know that is living without Jesus to come home to God!
“Let the weak say, I am strong” (Joel 3:10; ASV). That is a powerful faith confession. All through the Bible we are reminded that God is our strength, for example, “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless” (Isa 40:29; NLT) and “But those who
trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (isa 40:31; NLT). What an amazing promise!
In the New Testament Paul prays for the Colossians that they “would be energized with all His explosive power” (Col 1:11; TPT). The Greek word for energized is related to the word “dunamis” which is where we get our word dynamite from! Paul also prays for the Ephesians to be “strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man” (Eph 3:16; NKJV). This is referring to an inner strength. God can strengthen us both spiritually and physically. (See also Eph 6:10.)
It is God who gives us the strength to live our lives and do what He has called us to do (Phil 4:13). We observe that strength in the life of Jesus and also Paul and the apostles, whether they were teaching and preaching, ministering to those in need or enduring persecution.
Look to God as you go through your day, if you are feeling weak and tired confess any of the strength scriptures over your body and believe you receive by faith.
In Matthew 17, we read how Jesus took 3 of His disciples up a high mountain where He met with Moses and Elijah. Jesus “was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light” (Matt 17:2; NKJV); see also Mark 9:3; Luke 9:29). The Greek word for transfigured is “metamorphoo” and can also be translated as changed or transformed.
In 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV) the same Greek word is used, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” As Christians, with our spiritual eyes opened we can see the glory of Jesus in the word. The Holy Spirit will give us insight into who Jesus is, what He taught, how He opened the way to salvation and all He has for us. Faith in this revelation releases the Holy Spirit to transform us to be more and more like Jesus. We will come to be “conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom 8:29; NKJV), our minds will be renewed (Rom 12:2), we will receive His life in our mortal bodies (Rom 8:11) and we will walk just like Jesus walked (1 John 2:6).
I haven’t yet seen another person shine like Jesus did on that mountain, however, when Jesus returns, we are promised that “we shall be like Him” (1 John 3:2b; NKJV) and “you also will appear with Him in glory” (Col 3:4; NKJV). Hallelujah! Amen!
Please share the devotion below and tell others about our new book: "The life changing light of God's word, a 366 day devotional". See above in this web site for more information.
“All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them” (1 John 4:15; NLT). What an amazing truth! We have God living on the inside of us. That is more than my finite mind can comprehend! And our part? To confess
that Jesus is the Son of God. In John 14:23 Jesus is speaking to His disciples and says, “All who love Me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them” (John 14:23; NLT). What a beautiful promise, God will make us His home!
In Romans 8:11 we are told that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is living inside us and because of that He will bring life to our physical bodies. It’s amazing to ponder that verse; it is because we have the Spirit of Jesus on the inside of us that we can experience healing and resurrection life.
Galatians 2:20 is a well-known verse, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:20; NLT). So, what does it mean to have Christ living in us? For one thing it means we can commune with Him any time of day and night. It means we have His love, faith, peace, power and all the attributes of God available to us. It means we share His victory and it means He can shine through our lives and bring hope to others. It means all this and much more. I encourage you today to remember that you take God with you everywhere you go! “Christ in You, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27; NKJV).
In John 5:19; (NKJV) Jesus said, “most assuredly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner”. If we all did what God directed us to do what victory, power, unity and effective ministry we would walk in! In Old Testament God
told Joshua to have his people walk around the city of Jericho once daily for 6 days, 7 times on the seventh day with shouting on the seventh circuit. As they shouted the walls fell down and they took the city (Josh 6:1-21). Joshua and Israel obeyed God’s intriguing plan and the result? Victory!
In the New Testament, God gave the apostle Peter a triple vision of animals that as a Jew, he was not allowed to eat, but each time God said, “eat” (Acts 10:9-16). God was preparing Peter to minister to the Gentiles with whom the Jewish people were not allowed to associate (Acts 10:19-20; 28-29). Peter obeyed God and shared the gospel with a Roman centurion at a house full of Gentiles. While Peter preached, “the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word” (Acts 10:24-48; NKJV).
Our Bibles are packed with God’s instructions and promises for life and ministry. God will also direct us in many other ways such as by words and thoughts He brings to our spirits. Let’s keep focused on Him, read, listen and obey; the results will be powerful, miraculous and life changing