Читать книгу Shadows of the Cross - Craig Cashwell - Страница 24

Jesus was a storyteller. Often, he communicated his message through stories. One of his most famous parables is the story of the prodigal son. The word "prodigal" means wasteful, reckless, and dissolute (engaging in vices or overindulging in physical pleasures to a point that is considered immoral or harmful). Sound familiar?

Read Luke's account of this parable (Luke 15:11–32). Now, reread the story slowly and heartfully. Where scripture refers to the younger son, substitute the word "I" to help you imagine what an encounter might be like with Jesus.

Now, reread verse 20 from this first-person perspective: "So I got up and went to my Father. But while I was still a long way off, my Father saw me and was filled with compassion for me; He ran to me, threw his arms around me, and kissed me."

Read these words of the first-person perspective several times, out loud if possible. Read slowly and breathe as if you could literally breathe these words right into your heart.

If you are questioning whether you can still be a Christian and be forgiven, remember that God's love, compassion, mercy, grace, and forgiveness are all far deeper than we can fathom.

You are a child of God, cleansed by the blood of Christ and, accordingly, you are far better than the worst thing you have ever done. In recovery, you can begin to acknowledge that this is the Truth, directly from God's word. In this profound knowing, there will be a deepening of your inner peace and contentment. You will learn that you are drawing upon a Life that is bigger than you could have realized. No longer must you question whether you have enough or whether you are enough.

You are a child of God.