Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 Search Archive Print This Article Lost and found Saturday, February 23, 2008 Micah 7:18 Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance, who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency and will again have compassion on us. You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. Luke 15:21-24 From Jesus' story of the prodigal son: "While his son was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. "His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.' But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. "'And let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.' "Then the celebration began." When I cry at the movies, I'm often moved by a benevolent authority figure. Rather than victimizing or terrorizing or even harassing the little people, he tramples their sins underfoot and hurls them into the depths of the sea. And he stretches out his arms and says, "It's all right. You're safe. Let me love you." And my tears flow with joy. The Lutheran confession of sins I repeated weekly as a kid taught me to say, "I'm a poor, miserable sinner." Somehow I must have focused in on that part rather than the forgiveness part, which comes later. Colorful language sticks. Especially if I'm already pretty sure those words are right. What could I have done to think I deserved those epithets? Maybe not much, maybe nothing. But I inherited a tendency to see myself that way from my parents, who inherited it from their parents, who inherited it from their ... Nothing wrong with honest assessment - there's never been anything perfect about any of us. But growing up and growing closer to God means I get to know the way he sees me, how he talks about me ... how he waits beside the road for me to come home, and celebrates me (imagine that!) with all his might. Show me, show me, show me the way to go home, Lord. Where you are. That's where I want to be. "; Add      Edit    Delete