Slop Bucket Repentance

And He said, “A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’ So he got up and came to his father...” Luke 15:11-20

The young man who demanded his inheritance from his father and ran away had no idea he would end up penniless in a hog pen. His plans had been so good, his dreams so wonderful, much better than the ones his father had. What went wrong?

Understand that this son did not walk out the door and straight to the pigs; his trip was gradual. The farther he traveled in his self-deception, the harder it was for him to admit he was wrong. And his father let him make his own decisions. He didn’t demand that the son come back, or chase after him, or protect him from the mounting consequences of his destructive actions. Instead, the father allowed him to experience the full effects of his folly. Finally, in absolute despair, the son made a wise decision - to go home.

When you choose to follow your own misguided desires instead of the Lord’s direction, you start down the road to your own spiritual “hog pen.” Maybe you made a deliberate decision to disobey one of God’s commands, or perhaps you have drifted slowly down a path of compromise. As His child, you are already forgiven. With a humble and contrite spirit, you can return to full fellowship with your Savior at any time. Right now.

“...he came to his senses...”

Was Blind, But Now I See

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

In 1736, eleven-year-old John Newton went to sea on his father’s ship, beginning a life of rebellion and immorality. He often worked on slave ships, helping to sell slaves to wealthy landowners. An ambitious young man, Newton soon owned his own slave ship and was proud of his place in a bloody and cruel industry.

Only when his ship ran into a horrible storm and he feared for his life did he turn to God. In desperation he read a devotional about Christ. Newton came face to face for the first time with Jesus’ sacrificial love, and it changed his life. He eventually renounced the evil slave trade and became a powerful and bold minister. Years later, for his small congregation to sing, Newton penned the words to “Amazing Grace,” the moving story of his own conversion.

Newton realized that no crime is too big, no deed is too horrible, no thought is too wicked for Christ to forgive. His amazing grace covers all sin. When you accept His payment on the cross for your sin and make Him the Lord of your life, you are cleansed completely. Past failures no longer have a hold on your life. God washes old things away and makes you a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).

“Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.” -John Newton

The Peril of a Hard Heart

“Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said, ‘Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked me.’” Hebrews 3:12-15

Several theories surround Judas’ betrayal of Christ. One states Judas was disillusioned that Jesus refused to overthrow the Roman government and therefore betrayed Him. Another says Judas believed Jesus was the Messiah and tried to force Him to reveal His kingdom sooner. A degree of truth can be found in each of these. Whatever his motivation, the Scriptures simply state that Satan entered Judas and prompted him to betray the Son of God (Luke 22:3).

While Judas may have had a bigger problem with submitting to God’s will. Pride, selfishness, greed are all telltale signs of a hardened heart. Instead of following God’s instruction, a person with a hard heart hears God’s truth and chooses not to respond in obedience. Ignoring the prompting of the Holy Spirit always leads to a leanness in our heart and soul.

Only the unconditional love of Jesus Christ is strong enough to break through even the most calloused heart. It’s never too late to return to the love you once freely enjoyed with the Savior. If your heart has become hardened, confess your sin to God and ask Him to restore the joy of your salvation.

Don’t allow your heart to become hardened. Walk in the light of God’s love.

It’s About Choices

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” Romans 6:1-2

One of the toughest trials Joseph faced involved Potiphar’s wife. Day after day she tried to entice him to sin against God by committing adultery with her. When Joseph refused, she became enraged and falsely accused him of making sexual advances toward her. “As she spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to lie beside her or be with her” (Gen. 39:10).

Never think you can play with sin and walk away untouched. Joseph understood this. He also realized that no matter how minor the sin may appear, it has enormous consequences. Even though Potiphar believed his wife and Joseph wound up in prison, he was not forgotten by God. The Bible says, “The LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him...” (Gen. 39:21).

Despite the confining circumstances, God applied His mercy and grace to the situation. Later, Joseph became one of the most respected men in Egypt. Through his obedience, the entire nation of Israel was saved. When you make obedience your first choice, you will reap the rewards of a right decision. Should you fall to temptation, ask God to forgive you and cover you with His grace.

Sin is always a matter of choice.

Our Sin, His Grace

“The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:20-21

For years she was entangled in an immoral lifestyle. Finally, through a friend she came to know Jesus as her Savior. Several years passed before there was any hint of trouble; then friends discovered she was concealing a deep emotional hurt. Instead of being transparent with God or talking her feelings out with a pastor or counselor, she had allowed anger to fester and infect her emotional well-being. Sin resurfaced; only this time it was far more consuming.

Jesus loves us unconditionally. His grace is sufficient. We can lay all our hurts safely at His feet, knowing He will support and carry us through the difficulties of life. The problem in this woman’s life stemmed from a lack of communication. Out of fear of rejection, she failed to communicate her need to God. Did He know of it? Yes, but He wants us to bring every tear, every heartache to Him in prayer. It is a matter of yielding and loving Him above all else.

The chain reaction from an inner hurt can move quickly from self-pity to feelings of rebellion and then a return to sinful behavior. But God’s grace applied to our lives is a sin blocker. All we need to do is walk in the light of His forgiveness.

Grace should motivate us to gratitude and praise.

His Love is Stronger

“Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), He left Judea and went away again into Galilee. And He had to pass through Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; and Jacob's well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, ‘Give Me a drink.’ For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, ‘How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?’ (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, “Give Me a drink,” you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.’” John 4:1-10

When Jesus left Judea for Galilee, three routes were available to Him; one that crossed the Jordan and went up through Perea, another that followed the coastline, and one that went straight through Samaria. Because the Samaritans could not prove their genealogy, they were rejected by the Jews. Adding to the rift was the fact that the Samaritans worshiped on Mount Gerizim while the Jews maintained Jerusalem was the only true holy place. Thus, Orthodox Jews avoided Samaria at all costs. Think of the opposition Jesus probably received when He announced to the disciples they were going through Samaria instead of taking an alternate route. Yet it was in Samaria Jesus met a woman and led her to faith in God.

So shameful was this woman’s sin that she chose not to go to the well and draw water when others were present. Like each of us, she had nothing to offer the Lord. Her life was stained and in moral shambles. But Jesus cut through the darkness of her sin by touching her with His tender forgiveness. Grace is not grace if it is not freely given. No matter what the circumstances of your life may be, His love is stronger.

We can’t receive God’s love until we understand His grace.

Our Only Hope

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. John 1:14-17

God always offers grace, forgiveness, and restoration to those who come to Him with a repentant heart. This is our only hope - His grace saturated with love and mercy. However, it was an unknown concept in Jesus’ day. Men pridefully worshiped God by keeping every jot and tittle of the law. Hopelessly bound in rules and regulations, they came to despise Christ and His grace-filled efforts. Imagine the headlines Jesus might have ignited in the Jerusalem Daily News...“Former Carpenter From Nazareth Heals Blind Man On Holy Day”....“Demonic Delivered By Man Claiming To Be God”...or “Woman Caught In The Act Of Adultery Freed!”

Jesus never missed an opportunity to extend grace to the broken and spiritually depraved. He dined with tax collectors and harlots, raised people from the dead, and healed the demon possessed. He was a Man of grace-filled action.

When you hear the word grace, do you think of God’s glorious love freely given to you or do you see yourself as having to earn His love and affection? Grace isn’t interested in awards and honors. Even if you never do anything noteworthy, Jesus has made note of your life and He loves you - unconditionally.

Salvation moves us from law into grace where everything changes.