Deuteronomy 30:9
“Then the LORD your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your ground, for the LORD will again rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers.”
The last time we spoke of how God rejoices over us. Today the focus will be how to live with that knowledge. We know the father was glad to see the prodigal. He threw a party. What about the next day. It would be interesting if Jesus had told about the weeks following the Prodigal’s return. The young man had to relearn the family business, get along with the siblings and mend his relationship with his parents. There would be some rough days ahead. However, he was confident in his father’s love.
I’m sure the prodigal struggled with guilt. The brother was probably quick to condemn him. We also have thoughts of blame and guilt. However, God still rejoices over us. It can be like walking in the fog, but confident in our direction due to the compass in hand. We are assured of God’s pleasure due to the bible’s promises, but guilt and negative emotions attempt to cloud it.
Part of the problem is that we have a difficult time with forgiveness. We remember our former sins and we add new ones. Our old self (and others) condemns us. Forgiveness doesn’t seem possible. We feel like we need to do something to earn it. Not so. Jesus’ death and resurrection paid for that.
This is where faith comes in. He says we’re forgiven. More than that, He rejoices over us. That’s much more than tolerating us or looking the other way. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” We are to believe even though we don’t see (or feel) it.
It takes practice to learn this. Just as the prodigal did. He will continue to teach us. It doesn’t mean He’s displeased. He wants to mature us.
Lord, thanks for Your loving attitude. Help us to walk in that knowledge