You know who told one of the greatest love stories of all time? It wasn’t a Hallmark movie writer, or even Nicholas Sparks. It was Jesus. The people He shared it with needed to hear it, and I believe you and I need to hear it too. Come with me on a journey this week and let’s find out just how loved we really are! Our map is the Bible. Our guide is the Holy Spirit.
Today, we’re going to jump right into Luke chapter 15, to study truly one of the greatest love stories of all time. You ready? Let’s go!
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Transcription:
You know who told one of the greatest love stories of all time? It wasn’t a Hallmark movie writer, or even Nicholas Sparks. It was Jesus. The people he shared it with that day needed to hear it, and I believe you and I need to hear it too. Welcome to the Bible for Busy People. I’m Erica inviting you on a journey this week. Come with me and let’s find out just how Loved we really are.
Our map is the Bible. Our guide is the Holy Spirit. You ready? Let’s go. Today, we’re going to jump right into Luke chapter 15, but I want to offer a little context before we move to verse 11 and study truly one of the greatest love stories of all time. The religious rulers had gathered around Jesus and they were accusing him of having dinner with the wrong kind of people, sinful people, and he said, Hey, hey, hey. Let me tell you a story here. And He told the parable of the lost sheep and the shepherd who left the 99 to find the one that was missing. And He told the parable of a woman who had 10 silver coins and swept the whole house to find The one she had lost, and he was trying to illustrate how much God loves his children no matter how far they stray away. So now we’re going to pick it up in Luke chapter 15, verse 11.
To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story. A man had two sons. The younger told his father, I want my share of your estate now before you die. So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. A few days later, this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time His money ran out, a great famine swept over the land and he began To starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding, the pigs looked good to him, but no one gave him anything. When he finally came to his senses, he Said to himself At home, even the hired servants have food enough to spare. And here I am dying of hunger. I will go home to my father and say, Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.
You can imagine There were tears falling from his eyes. His face may have had dirt on it, and the tears made tracks through the dirt. He felt so unworthy. Have you ever felt like that? I certainly have. I’ve hurt people before. I’m not proud to admit that to you, but I have seen broken hearts reflected in the eyes of people I love, and it’s like I would do anything to go back and redo it and not hurt the person. And I understand what this young man is feeling. I can imagine he’s rehearsing his speech all the way home, right? Let’s find out what happens. Verse 20.
So he returned home to his father, and While he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.
And it doesn’t say that it’s cut off here in the passage, but perhaps he went on and the father cut him off picking it up in verse 22.
But his father said to the servants, Quick, bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet And kill the calf we’ve been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast. For this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found. so the party Began.
This is a picture of what the Bible says in one John John’s first letter in chapter three verse one,
See what great love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God.
And that is what we are. Key word there being lavished the grace that this father lavishes on the son. This love Is so powerful. It’s forgiveness and grace and love all wrapped up in one beautiful hug. When that robe fell on the shoulders of that young man, I believe it was symbolic of the grace and love and forgiveness that was wrapping around his heart. Can you imagine how deep that love went? I want you to know that if you’re in that place today, the place where you’ve Hurt someone deeply, perhaps it’s God, perhaps you have sinned and you’ve made a mistake. Follow the example of the prodigal son. He came to his senses. He realized that at home he was cared for and he was loved. Home representing a relationship with God for you and me. And he got up and went home. he went To his father, and you and I can go to our Father and say, Father, we have sinned against you. Please forgive me. And you know how God forgives you? It’s through the blood of his son Jesus that was on the cross for every sin that was ever committed. The ones in the Old Testament, the ones in the new, and the ones you and I made yesterday, Jesus is the great forgiver and his arms are open wide. Do you know what it says in Paul’s letter to the Romans? Chapter eight, listen to this.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love, neither death nor life. Neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today, nor our worries about tomorrow. Not even the powers of Hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below. Indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Nothing. Nothing can separate you from the love of Jesus Christ. If you’re in that same boat as the prodigal son was, run home, you’re going to find your Father’s arms open wide. You are loved.
Thank you so much for listening to the Bible for Busy People. If you need prayer or you’re ready to go a little deeper in your faith, we’ve posted some resources for you in our show notes. We’d love for you to share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review. It helps us reach even more people with the hope of Jesus. This podcast is part of Purposely, a podcast network designed with practical podcasts to help you find and live in God’s purpose for your life.
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