EVERY WORD OF GOD FOR DAILY LIVING BY PASTOR PAUL RIKA:
INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide

TITLE: MERCY FOR THE REPENTANT SINNER

DATE: THURSDAY APRIL 8 2021

​TEXT: LUKE 15:11-32

KEY VERSE: “For this my son was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found. And they began to merry” (Luke 15:24).

In our reading text, the parable of the prodigal son was given by Jesus to illustrate the following:

• The magnetic pull the world has on the believers.
• The miserable life of a backslider.
• The great mercies that God has for sinners.
• The great joy in God’s kingdom over a restored soul.
• The critical attitude of some people over a restored soul.
• The right attitude to display when a soul is restored.

The prodigal son is an example of a believer in Christ Kingdom who has yielded to the temptation of the devil, the enticement of sin, and the desires of the flesh. The observable traits in such believers include self-will, selfishness, sensuality, spiritual destitution, self-abasement and spiritual starvation.

The following ways will help you to be restored back to salvation and joy of the Lord: realization of your backslidden state, resolution to make your way right with God, repentance from sin, and a conscious return to the father in reconciliation. God will joyfully receive you.
The elder son did not see the return of his younger one as the father saw it. Instead of being joyful, he was rather critical, bitter and angry. The father had to entreat him and give him the correct understanding he should have towards the return of his younger brother. We note the following in the elder brother:
(i) Inquiry: He made inquiry.
(ii) Ingratitude: He was ungrateful at the return of his brother.
(iii) Injustice: He accused his father of injustice
(iv) Insensitivity: He was insensitive to spiritual things.
(v) Ignorance: He was ignorant of the riches he had.
(vi) Instruction: The father instructed him on the right thing to do.
(vii) Identification: He was to identify with the father in his joy.
Let us avoid the carnal attitude of the elder brother and put on the heart and compassion of God our Father towards restored souls.

Thought for the Day: Do I have the attitude of the elder or younger brother?

Song for the Day: Mercy Oh Lord (2x), Baba show me Your mercy

Bible reading for the day: Ruth 1-4; Luke 11:29-54