The Heart of Forgiveness

Luke 15:17-24

Verse 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.

    Forgiveness isn’t only a blessing to the person receiving it, the one extending it will also know a blessing.  In this story we know so well we find the joy of forgiveness.  While the son knew he had failed his father, the love of the father didn’t die.

    This young man had done much which could have forever severed the relationship.  Other than more or less wishing his dad was dead, the young man took his portion of his inheritance and left the father in the dust.  We should take into account the fact that he went to a distant which land leads us to believe that he forsook the father’s faith as well.  The young man wanted nothing to do with all the father had built for his family, the land, wealth or even the faith.

    With hopes of living the life he wanted to, he ran as far as he could and used his money to buy the things he thought he wanted the most.  But like the rest of us, he learned that getting our own way and living the life we have dreamed of isn’t all we thought it would be and there comes a time when we have to admit how our choices have hurt others along the way.

    Forgiveness isn’t all about what people have done to us, there are times – more times than we would like to admit – where we are the ones who have done the wrong and we need to ask for forgiveness from those who we have hurt so badly.  We can’t know they will forgive us.  But we need to ask.  Asking for forgiveness takes humility, something the unthankful son learned while working with the pigs after his money ran out.

    It was this newly humble man who walked the distance to seek the forgiveness of his father.  He knew he didn’t deserve it and was willing to call his dad master, considering himself a slave instead of a son.  Seeing his dad running towards him, grabbing him in a loving hug must have broken the son even further.  There is no joy like finding the forgiveness we longed for when we don’t deserve it, just as we know the joy of knowing the forgiveness of Holy God.

Making It Personal

    When have you had to humble yourself and ask forgiveness?  Was it well received?  How humbly do you view the forgiveness you have from Christ?

Making It Personal Kids

    What does it mean to be humble?  Why do you need to be humble to ask for forgiveness?  Do you deserve Jesus’ forgiveness?

Closing Prayer

    Father, we could never deserve Your forgiveness and yet You lovingly give it, thank You.  Give us humility in how we seek forgiveness from each other and to offer the forgiveness needed to bind us together in You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.