The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 1 March 2021 – God’s Compassion
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TOPIC: God’s Compassion (Anglican Devotional 1 March 2021)
READ: LUKE 15:11 – 24 (NKJV)
- Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.
- “And the younger of them said to [his] father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls [to me.’] So he divided to them [his] livelihood.
- “And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.
- “But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.
- “Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
- “And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him [anything.]
- “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
- ‘I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,
- “and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ‘
- “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
- “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
- “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put [it] on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on [his] feet.
- ‘And bring the fatted calf here and kill [it,] and let us eat and be merry;
- ‘for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
The MESSAGE:
Today’s text is the story of the prodigal son who had a very wayward lifestyle that separated him from his family. This exposed him to shame and suffering. Though his father was compassionate and willing to help, he could not because of the separating wall. When the prodigal son could not bear the situation, he reflected on the beauty of life in his father’s kingdom, then he humbled himself, admitted his sins, returned to his father, confessed his sins and appealed for adoption. The sincerity of his heart and actions gained him his father’s compassion, which changed him completely for good.
We have God’s compassion readily available but may not enjoy it until we have reflected on the beauty of heaven, humbled ourselves, admitted our sins and confessed them to God in agreement with heaven’s lifestyle. God is ready to attend to our needs but we have to pull down the dividing wall. The question therefore is; what is it that has separated me from the family of Jesus Christ? How can I remove the separation? Is there anyone who can help me to keep to my decision (that is, a disciple)? Sincere answers and practical steps to these questions will be helpful.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help my deliberate decision to live above sin today and grant me your compassion.
