At our small group “Women at the Well” recently, during prayer time I had a picture which I shared with the group. But I'd like to add it here as I think it is for anybody and everybody:
The context is that beautiful scene in the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:19 “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.”
But the picture I had was of how the son might have been feeling as they walked back home together. Did he start to have doubts? Did he feel ashamed of the fact that he was stinking, physically wrecked and ritually unclean from his contact with pigs? Did he wonder how others at home would react? Did it all suddenly seem like he had taken on more than he could handle? Was he tempted to break away from his father and delay the homecoming?
I felt the Lord wants to reassure us that we really do belong on the “road home” with Him, even when we may feel unworthy or unprepared. It is hard to believe that we are acceptable to Him if we feel that we must still smell of sin and shame, and yet this parable tells us that all that matters is our place in God's family, because (Romans 8:16) “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children”.
So if you are feeling unworthy today, remember that you are a cherished child completely accepted in Christ, just as you are right now.
Janet Noakes
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