Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Friday, September 1, 2017

"When he [the Prodigal Son] came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him."¹

A Daily Encounter reader writes: "I was once a Christian with a great love for the knowledge of the Bible. I have, unfortunately, turned away from God in the last several years. Will God take me back? Will he return His Spirit to me? Please respond."

Dear Frieda (name changed), Will God take you back? Will the sun stop shining? Will the world stop turning? Will God reject you? Never, never, never will God reject you.² He loves you with an everlasting love … not because of what you have ever done or have failed to do, but just because you are you, and because you are one of God's children. Not one of us is worthy to come to God in our own right, but because Jesus, God's Son, died to save us from our sins; through him even the worst of sinners can come to God. All we need to do is come to him, confess our sins and failures, and ask for his forgiveness ... and THANK him for it. Don't depend on your feelings. Depend on God’s Word which says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."³

Confess your sins and failures to God today ... and accept his forgiveness. And be sure to forgive yourself. Remember, if there is one prayer God loves to hear it is, "God, be merciful to me a sinner." Pour out your heart to God today. Tell him exactly how you feel. Ask for his help in every area of your life. Every day commit and trust your life and way to God. I have done this daily for many years because I know that God can make a much better job of my life than I ever could.

Also, read again "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian and be sure to read the last part about having assurance of your salvation and eternal destiny.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that you are a friend of sinnersâ€"including me. Thank you for your everlasting love and for giving your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross in my place to save me from my sins. Thank you that when I confess my sins to you, you forgive me fully and freely. Thank you for your forgiveness and for the gift of eternal life, and for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Luke 15:17-20 (NIV).
2. see Hebrews 13:5.
3. 1 John 1:9 (NIV).

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