Dear friends;

I pray that the grace of God be with you, you who call Jesus LORD.  I hope that by His mercies, I may exhort you in a few words.

To those who have erred away from God, and are currently feeling the burden of their guilt.

Please consider the reaction of the Father whose son had grievously hurt him, as recorded in Luke 15. In essence, the son was impatient to get his inheritance. Put it bluntly, for him, his father was not dying soon enough. So he asked for his inheritance, left the house, indulged in a life of party, drinking and fornication, until he lost everything, became a beggar, and had to take a job to feed pigs. He was not even considered worthy to eat what he was giving to the pigs (Luke 15:16).

In a severe state of distress, the guilt of what he had committed caught up with him. We know it because he no longer saw himself as the son of his father. Instead, he said…

Luke 15:18,19 – I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”’

However, when he did return, the reaction of the Father caught him by surprise…

Luke 15:20-23 –  So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast…

Some of you have wondered away from God, and some, for far too long. In fact, I would not be surprised that some of you are as guilty as this man. You have, by how you lived, hurt your Father, God to the same extent.

And among you, there are some who are now feeling that guilt. The guilt of your sin has caught up with you. I would like to encourage to run back to God. You may not feel that you deserve to be called the Son or Daughter of God…and THAT IS GOOD, for you are ready to offer true, real, genuine, repentance to God, which to Him, is the greatest of joy he can experience, after the pain you have inflicted Him.

Do not rob God of that Joy. Run to Him, your heart broken, your face covered in shame, and confess your sin before Him. He WILL NEVER refuse such a gift of repentance, and restore you into His fold. And you, will be a changed person!

In Jesus Name. AMEN.