Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

March 31
Wednesday


THE BEAUTY
OF FORGIVENESS

READ:
Luke 15:11-24
___________________________________________________________

When he was still
a great way off, his
father saw him and
had compassion, and
ran...and kissed him.
__Luke 15:20
__________________________________________________________

What started out as a collection has grown into a ministry opportunity for Larry and Mary Gerbens. For the past 10 years they've been collecting artistic works based on the story of the prodigal son from Luke 15. Their collection includes a painting by Rembrandt and a number of items by other artists depicting this story.

The Gerbens wanted to share their collection, so they put it on display at a local college. Larry said, "The artists have ministered to us, and we hope their work will minister to others."

As I wandered through the displays, I was touched by the deep need of the prodigal, his honest repentance, and the beautiful forgiveness of the father portrayed in the variety of art pieces--paintings, etchings, engravings, glasswork, sketches, and silk screens.

We have all been like the son in this story, who had other plans for his life than what his father had for him. We have all run away from our heavenly Father (Rom. 3:10-12). But He welcomes us when we come to Him.

You too will see the beauty of forgiveness in your heavenly Father's face when you cry out to Him, "Father, I have sinned..." (Luke 15:18). If you're away from Him, head home now and experience His love.
__Anne Cetas
_____________________________________________________________

```````````````````````O Lord, I now admit my guilt,``````````````
`````````````````````````And I accept Your grace;```````````````
````````````````````Transform my life and help me grow```````````
```````````````````````Until I see your face. __Hess`````````````
_____________________________________________________________

When God forgives, He removes the sin
and restores the soul.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ Luke 15:11-24**********

A certain man had two
sons. 12 And the younger of
them said to his father,
'Father, give me the portion
of goods that falls to me.' So
he divided to them his
livelihood. 13 And...the
younger son gathered all
together, journeyed to a far
country, and there wasted his
possessions.... 14 But when
he had spent all, there arose a
severe famine in that land,
and he began to be in want.

15 Then he went and joined
himself to a citizen of that
country, and he sent him into
his fields to feed swine.

16 and he would gladly have
filled his stomach with the
pods that the swine ate....

17 'But when he came to
himself, he said, 'How many
of my father's hired servants
have bread enough and to
spare, and I perish with
hunger! 18 I will arise and go
to my father, and will say to
him, "Father, I have sinned
against heaven and before
you, 19 and I am no longer
worthy to be called your son.
Make me like one of your
hired servants." '

20 "And he arose and came
to his father. But when he
was still a great way off, his
father saw him and had
compassion.... 21 And the
son said to him, 'Father, I
have sinned against heaven
and in your sight, and am no
longer worthy to be called
your son.' 22 But the father
said to his servants, 'Bring
out the best robe.... 23 And
bring the fatted calf here and
kill it, and let us eat and be
merry; 24 for this my son was
dead and is alive again; he
was lost and is found.' And
they began to be merry."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The Pharisees, who strictly followed the rules because they thought
that made them fit for heaven, were offended when Jesus ate with
sinners and tax collectors (vv.1-2). Then Jesus showed them God's
heart with three parables--the lost sheep (vv.4-7), the lost coin
(vv.8-10), and the lost son (vv.11:32). __SIM KAY TEE