"You Changed My Name" 5-Day Devotional by Matthew WestSample

Day 5: From Too Far Gone to Saved by Grace

How far is too far gone? Though God’s Word explains that the only unforgivable sin is blaspheming the Holy Spirit, we are quick to judge people as being past the point of no return. The anchor verse today is from a time when the Lord’s people were exiled from their land, but He promised them that one day their tears would be turned to joy as they returned. Through our fallen natures and actions, we may feel exiled from communion with the Father’s heart, but He beckons us to return to Him.

He shows us the longing of His heart when he tells us of the prodigal son, the one who gets his inheritance early and then leaves his family to spend it in unsavory ways. When the money and the friends run out, he took a chance that his father’s love had not and returned home to a celebration of his homecoming. While most in the household rejoiced, the older, faithful brother was indignant that the Father celebrated his wayward brother’s return.

We Christians can become like this older brother, so the Lord reminds us throughout Scripture that we are like both of these brothers at times. His tender mercies overflow for prodigals and to those who think they are too far gone. Some may have judged King David as unforgivable after he sent a man into the heat of battle to cover his adulterous affair. However, the Lord called him a man after His own heart because David was more than his worst sin. Peter, who denied knowing Jesus, seemed too far gone in his shame and grief until the Lord graciously restored him with words of love and encouragement.

Our gracious Lord could have chosen shiny, almost perfect people to communicate his expectations, but instead he chose imperfect men and women to broadcast his merciful and gracious love that casts out fear and assures us that we can trade our sorrows for everlasting joy.

Praise Jesus that none of us are too far gone, but instead we are saved by His Grace!

Questions:

• Who do you most align with - the Prodigal or the Faithful child? Why?
• Will you choose someone this week and pray that the Lord shows them the same mercy He showed you?