Love’s Journey to the Cross – Lent Reflections
Adopted, Luke 15
We continue to countdown the days of Lent towards Easter Sunday, as we focus on dying to our selves and living free in Christ, as we focus on love’s journey to the cross, on how God deeply loves us and calls us to love one another.
Reflect with me…
Think of a time when you were …stubborn, disobedient, arrogant, selfish…
…And even in those moments God longed to care for you…
Think of a time when you apologized and asked for forgiveness.
…Now picture God running to you, throwing His arms around you!
Luke 15:11b-20(CEV):
Once a man had two sons. 12 The younger son said to his father, “Give me my share of the property.” So the father divided his property between his two sons.
13 the younger son packed up everything he owned and left for a foreign country, where he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 He had spent everything, when a bad famine spread through that whole land and soon he had nothing to eat.
15 He went to work for a man in that country who sent him to care for pigs. 16 He would have been glad to eat the pigs’ food, but no one gave him a thing.
17 Finally, he came to his senses and said, “My father’s workers have plenty to eat, and here I am, starving to death! 18 I will go to my father and say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer good enough to be called your son. Treat me like one of your workers.’”
20 The younger son got up and started back to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son and hugged and kissed him.
…What in your life are you running away from?
What are you striving for on your own strength?
What are you being stubborn about, or trying to take control of?
Turn to your loving Heavenly Father. Forget any cold shoulder or even a forced handshake. He wants to call you His child and not His worker. He wants to run out to you and gather you in His big strong arms.
Pray…
Jesus, you spread your arms wide on the cross for us and you long for us to turn to you and receive your love, your gift of freedom. Because of your blood shed for us, we can boldly come to you and receive your forgiving and unconditional love.
Open our hearts this season of Lent to turn away from the things that defeat us, destroy us, discourage us, and turn our hearts towards you Jesus! We are your children and you long to care for us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Following and Trusting 