Tag Archives: Luke 15:17-20

Came To His Senses

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 45 - Luke 15:17-20 - Came To His Senses - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 45 – Luke 15:17-20 – Came To His Senses – Growing As Disciples

When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:17-20 (NIV)

My Senses

I’ve done that. You’ve done what? I have come to my senses. How have you come to your senses? I have seen what living a life without you looks and feels like. I have wandered away on a path that led away from you. I have lived according the values, principles and practices of the world. I have been bruised and battered and broken by living a worldly life. I have felt the weariness of living outside of an intimate relationship with you. It is probably a mistake to say that I came to my senses. That gives me too much credit. It would be far more accurate to say that you brought me to my senses. That’s true. You turned my life around. You showed me the error of my ways. You rescued me from a life without you. Yes, I did.

What have you learned about me? I have learned that you are good and kind and loving. I have learned that you are gracious and forgiving. I have learned that you are merciful. I have learned that you are patient. How have you learned all of these things about me? You have showed all of these things about you to me. I have deserved none of these things from you. You drew me back to yourself. You ran to accept me into your fellowship. You threw your loving arms around me. You welcomed me back into an intimate relationship with you. Yes, I did. You have not stopped loving me. You have not stopped caring for me. I am your child. You are my Heavenly Father. Yes, I am. You will continue to lead my life. You will guard and guide me as I love, follow and serve you. You will continue to mold and shape me into the person you want me to become. You will help me to live the life you have called me to live. Yes, I will. It will be my joy to live in an intimate relationship with you. That is very good. 

Holy Spirit, in the past I have not guarded what I allowed my mind to think. I have not set my mind on what you desire. I have not welcomed you to change my heart and transform my mind with God’s word. Well, I am now. Amen

Key Question… Why can you be certain that your Heavenly Father will wholeheartedly welcome you to Himself?

Living It Out… Live in an intimate relationship with your Heavenly Father so you will be able to love, follow and serve Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your Heavenly Father will wholeheartedly welcome you to live in an intimate relationship with Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are living in an intimate relationship with your Heavenly Father.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you come to your senses and return to love, follow and serve your Heavenly Father.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Becoming Like Christ – Day 47 – Luke 15-17-20 – Came To His Senses – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

When He Came To His Senses

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - When He Came To His Senses - Luke 15:11-32 - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – When He Came To His Senses – Luke 15:11-32 – Growing As Disciples

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:17-20 (NIV)

Let’s Celebrate

You were once a wanderer. Yes, I know. You thought you knew it all. Your heart and mind were set on doing evil. Yes, they were. You were walking in darkness along a path that led away from me. Yes, I was. Your experience was not unlike this first lost son. That’s for sure. What similarities do you see? He was so head strong and independent. He was so self-centered and unconcerned about how his actions might hurt others. All he cared about was what he wanted. Yes, that’s right. He got all that he thought he wanted, but his life left him broken, bruised, and battered. Yes, it did. He was experiencing the consequences of all his sin. What was that? He was completely destitute. When his money ran out, his friends all ran away. His starvation led him to working and living in a pigsty. That must have been humiliating for him. Yes, it was. His poverty and hunger gave him no choice. He became enslaved to others just to survive. Yes, he was. But, you have one point wrong. What’s that? He had a choice and he took it.

Let’s talk about the choice he made. Alright, he reached rock bottom and he came to his senses. What was that? Somehow he knew that he could turn away from his sin and go back to his father. He was ready and willing to confess his sin to his father. Yes, he was. He thought he might be able to pay his father back by working as his hired servant.He even had a little speech prepared. But, what happened when he tried to give it? The Father would hear none of it.

What did the Father do? The Father was watching and waiting for his son’s return. He saw him at a great distance. His heart was filled with compassion for his son. He ran out to meet him. He threw his arms around his son and kissed him. Then he covered him with a new robe and put a ring on his finger. All the father’s joy drowned out the son’s proposal to be a hired servant to his father. There would be none of that. Instead he was freely forgiven and there would be a party to celebrate. Why was that? The son who was dead was now alive. The son who was lost was now found. Yes, these are my favorite celebrations. I have no greater joy than to see my sons and daughters return to me.

You know all that I did for this lost son I did for you when you returned to me. I was watching and waiting for you. I ran out to welcome you home. I threw my arms around you. I put my robe of righteousness on you. You have my ring on your finger and my shoes on your feet. You are not working for me as my servant. No, I am working in and through you as your Father. Let’s celebrate that! That’s a great idea.

Father, thank you for watching and waiting for me when I was far away from you. Your love brought me to my senses and caused me to turn my life around and give it to you. It is now my desire to love, follow and serve you.  Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Parables – Luke 15-11-31 – When He Came To His Senses – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                        Copying not permitted                                                                                    www.GrowingAsDisciples.com