ESOCS Devotional 4 September 2023 – Come Back to Your Senses
MEMORY VERSE: “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.” Luke 15:17-18 NIV
TEXT: LUKE 15:11-END (KJV)
And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 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.
13 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.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And 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 fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 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!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 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.
21 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.
22 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:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, 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.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
The story of the prodigal son is a very popular one in the scriptures and many of us are very familiar with it. This young man wandered away from the presence of his father in his bid to seek for independence and self-pleasure, he enjoyed all that he found outside the covering of his father, yet it wasn’t enough to give him the fulfilled life that he desired. A day came when realities began to unfold and the once glorious and well decorated prince became a wretched street beggar, living at the mercy of crumbs from food given to animals.
Today, this particular incident is applicable to the life of most of the people of God. You were once in a happy marriage enjoying the peace, love and friendship of your spouse and your children, but all of a sudden you came in contact with a damsel or a young man from God knows where, and you are beginning to commit adultery with him/her. Even though you do it secretly thinking that nobody knows yet – your life has been shattered. You are no longer enjoying that peace of mind and beautiful friendship in your home anymore. “Marriage is honourable in all and the bed undefiled” (Hebrews 13:4). Your home is no longer how it used to be; you are now in the arms of a stranger, abandoning the blessed home that the Lord made available for you.
Were you once a firebrand believer in Christ? You have functioned in different capacities and contributed immensely towards the advancement of the kingdom of God. Your exploits were immeasurable and the grace of God upon you is beyond the comprehension of men. Your utterances were clothed with fire and your presence activates the glory of God in an environment. When you sing, the heaven opens; when you pray, the atmosphere quakes and when you preach, lives become transformed.
But all of a sudden you began to chase vain glory and worldly pleasures; the things that once irritated you are now things you wine and dine with every second and minute.
Dearly Beloved, we can go on and on in citing the carelessness of men in this regard, but please pay attention: when a man abandons the presence of God in pursuance of worldly pleasures, he is doing nothing than to subscribe to self-destruction; the matter doesn’t end well (Proverbs 14:12).
- I beseech you brethren by the mercies of God, if you are no longer who you used to be in your relationship with God, it is not too late to get back to the track. Please remember “from whence you have fallen” and come back to your senses.
- Oh Lord, I have walked away from thee, and walked in errors, please receive me back into your arms again and have me not to go back to my mess. Please, dear Lord, restore all that I have lost as a result of my carelessness.
FURTHER READING: Proverbs 16:25; Jeremiah 7:3; Revelation 2:5
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ESOCS Devotional 4 September 2023
