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“And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to make merry.”
— Luke 15:11-24 (KJV)
Perhaps you are sitting in a motor park heading back home after months away. You have spent your savings unwisely, made choices that dishonoured your parents, and strayed far from the God you once knew. The shame feels heavy, and the thought of facing those who love you seems impossible. Yet somewhere in your heart, a small voice whispers: there is a way back.
This is the Father’s heart we see in Luke 15. The younger son had everything—opportunity, inheritance, freedom—yet he squandered it all in riotous living. But notice what changed everything: “when he came to himself.” Repentance begins not with perfect words or grand gestures, but with honest reflection. The son did not make excuses. He did not justify his foolishness. He simply acknowledged the truth: “I have sinned.”
This is what God requires of us. In 2 Corinthians 7:10, Paul writes that “godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of.” Repentance is not merely feeling sorry for what we have done—it is a complete turning around, a genuine return to God’s ways. It means we stop defending our sin and start fleeing from it.
But here is the glorious part: the Father did not wait for his son to approach with a prepared speech. While the son “was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran.” Our heavenly Father is not waiting reluctantly for our return—He is watching eagerly for it. He runs toward the penitent heart.
You may have wandered into business practices that compromise your integrity, relationships that pull you from righteousness, or habits that mock the Cross of Christ. You may feel too ashamed to face God, too broken to be restored. But the parable tells us otherwise. The father did not say, “You must serve as a hired servant to prove yourself.” He called for the best robe, a ring of authority, shoes of sonship—full restoration, full celebration.
In Proverbs 28:13 we read: “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Notice the two requirements: confession and forsaking. Not one or the other, but both. Confession without the intention to change is empty religion. But when you truly turn from your sin and return to God’s path, mercy awaits you without measure.
Today, if you have strayed, take the first step. Come to yourself. Acknowledge where you have fallen. Return to your Father’s house—not as a slave, but as a beloved child returning home.
Lord, give me courage to turn from my sin and confidence to run toward Your open arms.