I was praying today about someone no longer here…

Telling our great, big, amazing God how they were not evil… I asked Him, “Lord, did You meet them at the well, as You met the Samaritan woman?”

Did You meet them among “those” whom society had cast aside?

Among “those” whom others thought were not good enough?

Among “those” whose past seemed too stained for them ever to amount to anything?

Among “those” whom others treated as though they were discarded things?

Then this came to me: even our righteousness is like filthy rags.
Yet God offers us a new garment, a robe of righteousness.

But we must be willing to accept it.

The prodigal son had to arise from the pigpen and make his way back to his father. He had to become willing to receive something better — not only better than the pigpen, but better than the lesser place he believed he deserved when he returned.

He thought he would return and live as one of the servants. At least then, he believed, he would have some place back home.

But his father restored and redeemed him. He placed a ring on his hand and clothed him with the best robe.

The robe was a declaration of restored honor and sonship — a beautiful picture of the righteousness, identity, and restoration our heavenly Father gives.

It was a beautiful portrayal of redemption. It was an image of accepting a new robe of righteousness!

Will we receive that from our heavenly Father?

Will we accept something better than “just the pigpen”?

Will we come to understand and receive what God has prepared for those who turn to Him?

The Samaritan woman received something better than the life she had known.

She received living water, truth, and a miraculous encounter with the Messiah.

She received enough to leave her waterpot behind and go tell others about Him.

The prodigal son also received something better than what he had. He had left believing that what he possessed at home was not enough and that the world could offer him something better.

But when everything the world offered wasted away, he discovered that what he truly needed and wanted — is what he had longed for all along — and was right at home with his father.

His father did not cast him aside as a discarded thing.

He instead restored him as his son and received him with more grace than he believed he deserved.

Now the prodigal son could say without doubt, “There is nothing for me out there. This world offers me nothing that compares with home. What I need, what I have longed for all along, is here with my father.”

This world offers nothing in comparison to what only God can give.

I pray that we will all come to understand that what our souls truly long for can be found only in and through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

And when you turn to Him, do not allow the attitude of even one elder brother to deter you.

We must pray for those who respond like the elder brother, but their resentment does not represent the heart of the Father.

Even then, the father went out and pleaded with the elder son to come into the celebration.

God doesn’t shun.
God doesn’t discard.
God invites us home.

God does not cast away the one who comes to Him.

God does not treat the repentant as discarded things.

God calls us to arise, return, and enter the joy of His house.

He invites you and me home.

Will you enter?

Will you receive what He offers?

If your answer is yes —

Then welcome home.

Isaiah 64:6; Isaiah 61:10; John 4:4–30, 39–42; Luke 15:11–32; John 6:37