I am a Spirit…

This is a follow-up post from my other article on pride and worth issues.

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In the parable of “the prodigal son”, when the son returns home, hoping to return to his father, he says, “I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.” (Luke 15:21)

What was his thinking? He no longer felt worthy and significant because of what he had done. He got his identity out of what he was doing (his failure) instead of whose son he was. He felt like that his actions determined his worth in the eyes of his Father. Yet, his failures, shortcomings, and sins were completely irrelevant from the Father’s perspective.

“Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.” (Luke 15:22)

So many believers feel worthless or guilty because of the failures in their past, how they have sinned, or how they have failed to acsend the church “ladder”. They think that God is mad at them, or that God is punishing them with lost opportunities, difficulties, sickness, and/or trials. They think “How can God ever use me?” or “I’ll never amount to anything.” They think that God is keeping a record of their past and now counting their sins against them. This is completely contrary to the heart of the Father.

“…God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them” (2 Cor 5:19)

What did the Father do to the prodigal? He didn’t count his son’s sin against him. That’s how there was reconciliation.

He treated him as if he had never sinned (that’s called forgiveness).

He wasn’t mad!

He didn’t condemn.

He didn’t judge.

He didn’t even require repentance.

He forgave.

That’s called kindness that draws repentance (Rom 2:4).

He treated him according to the fact that he was His son, not according to what he had done; the Father treated the son as if he was righteous (2 Cor 5:21, Rom 5:19-20), not according to his sin (2 Cor 5:19).

This is the good news, we aren’t treated the way our actions merit. That, my friends, that is called grace.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us…when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.” (Rom 5:8,10)

This is what love does. It keeps no record of wrong, it’s not easily provoked. You are worth the price that was paid. You are priceless. Stop feeling worthless. Stop acting worthless. Stop holding yourself in the light of your past failures because your Father doesn’t. He sees you as if you have never sinned. He’s not the great “list-keeper.”

Related Posts:

• The End of Performance
• Dealing with Pride and Worth Issues
• What Love is This?
• The Blueprint of “Renewing Your Mind”