“Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”

Isaiah 55:7
In the familiar parable of The Lost Son, a young man stubbornly seeks to be on his own, accountable to no one. To do so he’ll need a lot of money (which would have come easily to him if his father had died and left him an inheritance). He manages to obtain his inheritance but squanders the money on prostitutes and partying. In desperation, he heads home with the slim hope that his dad will allow him to work for food. If the father were to obey Old Testament laws for dealing with a rebellious son, the young man would have been stoned. Astonishingly, the father rejoices to see him and hosts a lavish party instead.
Don’t miss the remarkable truth here: our holy God offers extravagant (prodigal) grace to every repentant sinner. The most notorious deviant who comes to Christ is welcomed home. That grace is extended to all, whether they have lived like a prodigal or like the judgmental older brother. Writing from a prison cell, I humbly admit I have been in both brothers’ shoes. Yet the Father welcomes me and you with open arms! Join me this month celebrating God’s prodigal grace to us.
Author: Ed writes to us from the heart as he is serving a 46-year prison sentence in a state correctional center in western Illinois. For six years a mentor through Metanoia Prison Ministries has discipled him and encouraged him in biblical studies correspondence courses. Ed’s mentor, Rob Collins, and his wife Jane have been a great assistance to him in the completion of this Anchor. Also, Ed has six siblings (married and with families) as well as a dear mother praying for him.



Scripture Focus

Luke 15

Insight

Open our eyes, Lord, to see “wonderful things” in Your Word (see Psalm 119:18) and Your solution to our sin: Jesus!

Bible In A Year

  • Exodus 13-14
  • Psalm 32
  • Mark 12

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