Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Search Archive Print This Article Day by day by day by day Sunday, March 25, 2001 Luke 15:11-32 Jesus tells a story about a father and his son, "The younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living." After awhile, he returned home. His father: "Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." I have left ... and returned many times. I've been lost ... and been found many times. Nothing in the life of a real man or woman is a one-time deal. I turn away from God, discover my mistake and turn back to him over and over, day after day. Every time my Father celebrates my return, breaks out the party food and pops the corks. Every time he takes me in his arms, warms my body and my soul, receives me, loves me, accepts me. Every time. This is love that never reaches a limit, never comes to an end. God may not condone my behavior but he never stops accepting me. This kind of unconditional acceptance also marks healthy human relationships. Acceptance is the antidote to anger and contempt. It frees me from the tyranny of judgment and self-centeredness. As I see myself as human, fallible, fallen and forgiven I am so much more effective first at withholding judgment and secondly at affirming and accepting others as human themselves. Lord, you accept me and teach me the rhythms of freedom and growth. I don't want to take advantage of your grace; let me pass it on in every relationship I have. "; Add      Edit    Delete