Key Ideas
Faith Fact
I can accept God’s forgiveness.
Faith Verse
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
Question of the Day: Why does the Father give us such undeserved mercy?
Read about It
Read: Luke 15:11–32
In the Book of Luke, we read one of Jesus’ most famous stories, or parables. The Parable of the Lost Son is the story of a son who asked for his inheritance from his father early and wasted it. The son lived such a wild life that when he ran out of money, he even considered eating pig’s food when he was hungry. He decided to go back home, but he didn’t think his father would accept him. But when his father saw him coming, he ran to his son, hugged him tightly, and threw him a banquet.
This story is a picture of God’s mercy to us. When we ask Jesus to be the Lord of our life, we will receive His mercy. Even when we make bad choices, God is waiting for us to turn back to Him. When we turn away from our sin and toward God, He rejoices and celebrates. Why does He do this? Because God loves us so much!
Talk about It
|
Question 1. What did the father do when the son returned home? Answer 1. He ran to him, hugged him, kissed him, and threw him a banquet. (Luke 15:20, 23)
|
| Question 2. Why do you think the son went his own way?
Answer 2. Answers will vary.
|
| Question 3. How do we “go back home” to God?
Answer 3. We turn away from what we have done that is wrong and go to God for forgiveness.
|
| Question 4. Have you ever felt that God wouldn’t forgive you for something? Explain.
Answer 4. Answers will vary.
|
| Question 5. Why does the Father give us such undeserved mercy?
Answer 5. God gives us mercy because He loves us. |
Pray about It
Dear Father, Your mercy is so amazing and great. I don’t deserve it, and I will never earn it. I never want to waste the mercy that You have given me. Help me to always return home if I wander away. Forgive me when I have sinned and run away from You. I accept Your gift of forgiveness and mercy. I love You. Amen.