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Today's Lenten Devotion
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Amazing Grace
"I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep and I will make them lie down," says the Lord God." "I
will seek the lost and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will
strengthen the weak ... "
-- Ezekiel 34:15-16
This Bible verse brings to mind the story of the prodigal son. The youngest son goes to his father
and asks for his inheritance ahead of time so he can go out in the world. The father splits the
inheritance between his two sons and the youngest goes off and squanders all of his on women
and drink finally ending up so hungry that he find himself on the ground with the pigs trying to get
some of their food. He decides to go back home and beg his father for forgiveness. His father
sees his youngest approaching and calls for a great feast to be made ready. He embraces his
son and welcomes him home with open arms.
The oldest, returning from the fields sees a celebration taking place and angrily confronts his father.
He has been the good son, staying
home and doing all that his father told him to do and not once did his father throw a party for him!
The father tells the oldest that he doesn't understand. He is with him always and everything that
belongs to the father belongs to the eldest son but a wonderful thing has happened and a
celebration is in order. The brother that was dead is alive ... was lost and now is found.
In the book "Messy Spirituality" the late author Mike Yaconelli writes that "nothing makes people
in the church more angry than grace." He goes on to explain that for ourselves we want unlimited
grace and forgiveness but we don't want the same forgiveness and grace extended to others as
freely.
Like the father who loved his eldest son for his obedience and hard work and loved him no less
by welcoming home and loving the younger son, God loves us all equally and completely. God
loves the sinners and the faithful alike. Those we deem unworthy are the very ones God's love
extends to. That is what forgiveness is all about.
If we had to earn God's forgiveness, it would
not be forgiveness. Thank God that He has chosen to be our shepherd and seek us when we
stray and find us when we feel lost and alone.
All-loving and forgiving God, remind me daily to extend the grace and forgiveness to others that
you have given me. Give me patience, energy, and creativity, and use me as a vessel to
communicate this message to others. Amen
Rae Starke
raestarke1234@aol.com
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