Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Luke 15:11-24 (NIV)
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
How has God shown compassion toward you? Others you know?
To which Bible text above can you most relate? In what way?
Do you deserve God’s compassion? Why or why not?
On whom, if anyone, do you have compassion? For what reason? How have you shown it?
Are any of those upon which you have compassion people you don’t know, don’t like, or of which you are afraid? If not, what could you do to experience an attitude change?
Father God, there was a time in my life when I had turned my back on all the wonderful gifts of love you had promised to give me and I tried to do “it” on my own. But I finally realized that the weight of this world is too heavy for me to carry without You and in tears and desperation, I turned back to You. You waited for me to come home to You. I love the visual image of You running to greet me and wrapping your arms around me when I realized that I needed You and I asked to submit my life to You. I felt it when You welcomed me back with opened arms and celebrated that I came home again. Lord thank you for waiting for me. Thank You for accepting me back. Allow me to help others who have fallen away from You. Allow me to show compassion and greet them with Your open arms of love. Amen