Get Connected to God

In the Bible (Luke 15) Jesus illustrates His love for mankind in the form of a story. The story goes like this: The youngest son of a wealthy landowner decides to take his inheritance and venture off to a foreign country to live a life of self-indulgence. Eventually, however, the consequences of this life-style catch up with the young man and he finds himself literally eating among the swine.

When he comes to his senses he determines to return home and offer himself as a servant-no longer feeling worthy to be called a child. However, unknown to the son, the father has waited daily searching the horizon for the son to return. When he sees his youngest son in the distance the father's reaction is amazing. Instead of rejection, the father embraces him, welcomes him, clothes him with regal robes, places a gold ring on his finger and throws a party in celebration of his return.

We are like that son. We have each turned our back on a loving heavenly Father to pursue our own self-interests. And now each of us has a choice to make. We can stay in our present life of self-void of any relationship with God, or we can make the decision to turn toward home; toward the Father who has been waiting patiently for our return. If we do turn toward Him, He welcomes us home. He gives us a new life (2 Corinthians 5:17) and celebrates our return.

Our reunion with the Father is made possible because God sent His Son to earth to show us the way home. He did this by living a righteous life yet choosing to die for our sins. In this, He took on our punishment (for the consequence of sin is death [Romans 6:23]). Yet on the third day He conquered death through His resurrection. By doing so, we can be reconciled to the Father when we believe in Him. (Read 2 Corinthians 5:19, 21).

This is grace: God's unconditional and unearned love and acceptance of us just as we are. Romans 3:22 says: "We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done."

Grace is radical. Therefore, the question is not whether God should make such an outlandish gift available. He already did. The question is what are we going to do with His gift. Receive it or reject it? How do we receive it? Romans 10:9 gives us the answer: "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

If you have not received God's gift of grace personally, this is a great opportunity to do so. Simply confess to God in prayer your need for His grace-receiving His Son's sacrificial gift for your forgiveness and reconciliation.

An example of this prayer would be: "Dear Lord, I want to know You personally. I am willing, with your help, to turn from my life without You. Thank you for sending Jesus Who died in my place and rose again so I could be reconciled to You. Come into my life and lead me to You. Amen."

If you prayed a prayer like that then welcome to the family! Please Read I John 5:12