Welcomed With Open Arms

 October 2, 2024

Verses of the day - Luke 15:31-32 (NRSV)

Then the father said to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.

In chapter 7 of my first book, Jesus speaks to us about the prodigal son.

Excerpt from Spirituality, A Journey For My Soul

Just as the prodigal son was reconciled with his earthly father, so must everyone be reconciled with Me.  The prodigal son sinned greatly against his earthly father.  Even though he left and did his own thing in a foreign land, his father was waiting for him at home.  When the son realized how lost he was without his father, he came back home.  His father was overjoyed to see him upon his return and welcomed him with open arms.  This father showed his son the great love and mercy he had for him.  As a result, the son was forgiven.  Just as the Father of the prodigal son welcomed him back with open arms, I too welcome everyone to Myself with open arms.  It does not matter how long you have been away from Me or how great your sins are, I will always welcome you back with open arms.  Nothing can separate you from My love.

Many times we are like the prodigal son.  We drift away from God because we want our own way.  We think that we can make it on our own without the help of God.  Jesus allows this to happen because He gave us free will.  When we learn our lesson that we cannot make it through life on our own, Jesus is always there waiting to welcome us back with open arms.  When we run back to the loving arms of Jesus, we will have great joy.  This great joy comes from knowing that we are forgiven.  What a great God we have!  Even when we abandon Him, He will never abandon us.  He waits patiently in the shadows of our lives for us.  When we decide to return to Him, He is more than ready to welcome us back.