PARABLES - WEEK SIX - DAY ONE

Hello and welcome to your Daily Devos, following our Parables series at 29:11!

Take some time today to read through the provided scriptures, meditate on the lessons we’ve learned this week, and journal your prayers. Have an amazing week, 29:11 Church!

THEME SCRIPTURE: 

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. 13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. 17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ 20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ 22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’ 28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’ 31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”

Luke 15:11-32 NLT

TODAY’S PASSAGE:

8 “The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; Slow to anger, and of great mercy. 9 The LORD is good to all: And his tender mercies are over all his works.”

Psalms 145:8-9 KJV

REFLECTION:

Compassion is a word you hear often but wholeheartedly feel in your life very few times. When we think of words like compassion, either it reminds us of that time we truly experienced it for ourselves or it begs the question, “what even is compassion?” To better define the idea of compassion, Google defines compassion as this: “Compassion is different from empathy, but the concept is related. Some say that true compassion is about going beyond emotion or rationalization and being kind regardless.”

Just as Psalm 145 shares: our God is gracious, full of compassion, slow to anger and full of great mercy. Just as God has shown us great compassion by being kind and merciful regardless of our mistakes, God also challenges us to carry that same compassion as we bring the light of Christ to others. How can you better show compassion this week? 

THOUGHTS TO PONDER:

As you take time to journal today, think of a time where you experienced true compassion from God and a time where you experienced it from someone else. Thank God for His compassion in prayer and ask Him to fill you with the true compassion that comes from Him!