Lucas: 15; 11-32

Title: Gods love for us as his children

Topic: recurrence

Big Idea: Huwag mong hahayaan na maputol ang Koneksyon mo sa Diyos

Structure: key verses 32
1. God Loves us
2. God is compassionate
3. God is forgiving

The story of the Prodigal Son is one of Jesus Christ's most well-known parables. It tells the tale of a son
who took his father's inheritance and then departed. Then he indulged himself with all of his fortune.
(Luke 15:11-13)

Prodigal refers to someone who is "wastefully expensive."

He lived in misery after losing all of his fortune due to a famine. He made the decision to return to his
father after that. His father was overjoyed to see him return and gave him a lavish welcome. (Luke
15:16-24)

His older brother skipped the feast because he was upset by his reappearance.He was upset since he
had long since been his father's servant but had never received anything in return. (Luke 15:25–322)

Because we have all experienced being lost at some point in our lives, we can all relate to this fable. It's
because we are ignorant of the commands and will of the all-powerful God

What is the most crucial lesson we should take away from this parable?

In the narrative, the father's traits are truly God. God is a merciful and forgiving God. Anyone who
approaches Him with a contrite heart will be welcomed and pardoned.

The Lord says, "Come now, let us settle this," according to the Bible. Though your crimes are red like
crimson, they will be like wool; though they are scarlet, they will be as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18)

It is incorrect to think of God as a stern, domineering master who sits on His throne, waits for everyone
to make mistakes, and then punishes whomever He finds.

1) God is a loving God.

He doesn't enjoy misbehaving in any way. But since he is also a God of justice, it is not fair for us to take
advantage of his qualities.

He corrects those who deserve correction and pardons those who deserve his mercy.

The son in the tale comes back, demonstrating his humility and forgiveness for his old life. Does God
want us to have this? God actually desires that we understand the true meaning of atonement and
approach Him in a spirit of repentance, vowing never to return to our former ways of life.

The Bible says, “Have pity on me, O God, in your mercy; out of a full heart, take away my sin. Let all my
wrongdoing be washed away, and make me clean from evil. For I am conscious of my error; my sin is
ever before me.” (Psalms 51:1-3)

When we come to God, we needed to turn away from our sins. God accepted us in His house, which is
the church of God (1 Timothy 3:15).

In His house, we felt God’s love, care and protection as He treated us His children. We were cleansed
through water and spirit throughBaptism, which is the symbolical act of God’s forgiveness.

2 compassionate

God demands that we live in accordance with the goals of our calling. It should cause us to turn from our
former habits and draw nearer to God through faith since He has cleansed us with His precious blood.

A true servant shows His faith in actions and in works. “But the just shall live by faith;” “and if he draws
back,” “My soul is not pleased in him. But we are not of those withdrawing to destruction, but of faith,
to the preservation of the soul.” (Hebrews 10:38-39)

Thus, we should walk according to His will and commands in all aspects of our lives.

Moreover, God expects that we will show greater love to others because He has shown us incredible
amount of love and mercy. In one of His teachings, Jesus taught that the one who was forgiven much
would show greater love than the one who was forgiven less. (Luke 7:40-43)

He said once to Apostle Peter, “But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not. And when you are
converted, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32) Here, God wants us to be strong in faith so that we
can strengthen those who are weak.

3) God is forgiving

There were many who remained steadfast in their faith ever since they were called, even if there were
some who turned away from God but were able to return through His loving love and mercy. Some
people are like Samuel, who began serving God at a young age. Some people are like Timothy, who at a
young age decided to preach.

We are not immune to sin just because we have maintained our faith. All of us are prone to sinning and
occasionally experiencing weakness and remorse. To put it another way, we are all people.

Instead, God wants us to love them and help or encourage them so they will become strong too. “And
receive him who is weak in the faith, but not to judgments of your thoughts. Who are you that judges
another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. But he will stand, for God is able to make him
stand.” (Romans 14:1, 4)

The reason for doing this is that we had received God’s forgiveness and mercy. That is enough to explain
why we need to serve Him and others. His mercy allowed us to to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I
will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” So then it is not of the
one willing, nor of the one running, but of God, the One showing mercy.”(Romans 9:15-16)

In the book of Psalms, we can read, “Blessed is the one whom You choose, and cause to come near You.
He shall dwell in Your courts; we shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy
temple.” (Psalms 65:4)

God’s calling and mercy is a gift, it is something that we must appreciate through offerings and
thanksgiving. “For by grace you are saved, through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
(Ephesians 2:8)

Thus, it becomes our duty to help bring others closer to God through encouragement and preaching. We
must try our best and do our part in sharing God’s words to our love ones, friends and families because
we know by doing this; we can save them from the awaiting eternal punishment. “And pity some,
making a distinction. But save others with fear, snatching them out of the fire, hating even the garment
being stained from the flesh.” (Jude 22-23)

Conclusion:

God's love for us does not depend on our faithfulness; it is unconditional. He loved us while we were still
sinners. Though we are demanding and do not remain faithful, God is still our faithful and loving Father.