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Robes and Rings or Pigs in Pens

  • I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.' He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Luke 15:18 WEB

    The younger son in the story that Jesus told had really messed up his life and ran through all of his inheritance in wild living and prostitutes. When all was gone, a famine set in and those that may have helped him get by, were no longer able to.

    When he was starving, he got a job feeding pigs, which would have been repulsive to a Jew. Pigs (swine) were considered unclean under the law. After growing up on a farm, I can confirm that. There is nothing quite like the smell of a hog pen.

    While starving and living in a disgusting place, he came to his senses. Hardship has an amazing way of bringing us back to reality. He remembered that His father's hired servants had food to spare and he decided to humble himself and go back home. When he lived with the father, he lived in royalty. When he lived on his own, he lived in poverty.

    He put together a repentance speech: 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants' (Luke 15:18). Then he went to meet his father, broke, barefoot and hungry.

    His father saw him coming up the road, was moved with compassion, and ran to his son, hugging and kissing him. While the son was trying to explain how sorry and unworthy that he was, the father was already commanding the others to bring the best robe and put it on him, a ring on his finger, and shoes on his feet. He threw a great feast and celebrated having his son back home safe and sound. The father was happy to have his son back.

    Sometimes we stumble and feel like we are no longer worthy to talk to God. We feel that we have let Him down, once again. The enemy climbs on our back and rides us like a pony, telling us how sorry that we are, and sometimes he is right. We did it and there is no one to blame but us. We knew what was wrong, but did it anyway.

    Yet no matter what we have done in the past, we can humbly turn back to God and He will begin to restore us. He is not mad, but so happy to see us walking on His road. Too often we go about with our head down, having no idea who we really are in Christ, or what we mean to Him. We are bound by our past and living exactly as the enemy wants us, defeated and broken, when it could be corrected in seconds.

    If you ever find yourself broken, hungry, living in a disgusting place and it was completely your fault, remember that God's door is open and that He wants you back. He promises us that He who believes in Jesus will never be put to shame. Shake that defeated mentality off and lift your head for you are a Child of the King and always welcome in God's house.

    Prayer: Father, I thank You for accepting me just as I am. Restore me Lord and help me find my proper place in the body. Help me to know who I am in You. Restore my identity as Your child and lead me from this day forth, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

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35 comments
  • 1
David and Dianna Wyles
David and Dianna Wyles Amen! I thank our Father daily that he is so forgiving and loves us unconditionally! I would be lost without his grace <3 Thank you for your inspired words today. Pastor's Prayer: Father, I thank You for accepting me just as I am. Restore me Lord and help me find my proper place in the body. Help me to know who I am in You. Restore my identity as Your child and lead me from this day forth, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
February 14, 2016
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Twila Stierwalt
Twila Stierwalt Amen!
February 14, 2016
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Valerie  King
Valerie King Amen.
February 14, 2016
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Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer Amen. 
February 14, 2016
  • 1
Carol Policastro
Carol Policastro If only our younger generation could believe this.  Oh how happy many parents would be!  AMEN
February 14, 2016
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Deng Tembreza
Deng Tembreza amen
February 14, 2016
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Twila Stierwalt
Twila Stierwalt My prayer too. I want to renenber who I am in Christ and to live it out. Jesus loves me no matter what my circumstances are. I can always depend on Him, trust Him and believe Him.
February 14, 2016
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Kealtis &quot;Key&quot; Austin
Kealtis "Key" Austin "Restore my identity as Your child and lead me from this day forth, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray."  This is what really caught my attention.  This is something that we should really ask and pray for on a  day to day basis, that God restore to us our identity as His child.  We tend to loose that identity, especially while dealing with others.    
February 14, 2016
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Deng Tembreza
Deng Tembreza amen  
February 14, 2016
  • 1
Penelope Rhome
Penelope Rhome amen
February 14, 2016
  • 1
MP (Mary Pat) Taylor
MP (Mary Pat) Taylor Thank you for this, Pastor Dion.  I often struggle with feeling unworthy for the plans God has for me.  Especially the last few years, I've felt like I screwed up my life irreparably.   And I've realized a large part of my struggles in the past and why I did that was because of not trusting in God's will for my life, and trying to make things happened on my own.  
February 14, 2016
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Joey Smith
Joey Smith Amen, thank you Pastor Dion for the inspirational words of the Lord it is alwaysa blessing to start the day with the inspiring words of the Lord.Happy Valetines Day everyone and have a Blessed Sunday.
February 14, 2016
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Marisa Jackson
Marisa Jackson Our Father in Heaven thank you for forgiving me and for always loving me.  I am truly blessed by your love and truly love and honor you always through infinity!  Amen!!
February 14, 2016
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Gail Sellu
Gail Sellu Amen, I love you Lord,  thank you for loving and forgiving me. In you son Jese' name I pray
February 14, 2016
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mary holcomb
mary holcomb This story was taught in Church this morning...God has a way of confirming His Word! Thanks Pastor Todd.
February 14, 2016
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Carol Pady
Carol Pady Amen!
February 14, 2016
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<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Love this story of an unconditional Love that Jesus has for all of us.  
February 14, 2016- Edit- Delete
  • 1
Kathy Banfield
Kathy Banfield Amen! Jesus said He came to call the sinners--and that includes me!
February 14, 2016
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Karen Pasquinelli
Karen Pasquinelli AMEN!!  Thank you Jesus for forgiving me for all my wrong doings.
February 14, 2016
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Karen Pasquinelli
Karen Pasquinelliedited: February 14, 2016 By the way, my Mom was born in the Ukraine and as a little girl she had a pet piglet.  She told me how she used to take it to bed with her and it would sleep with her.  She also told me that pigs are not dirty animals but they are very clean.  In the Ukraine the pigs are not left in mud but straw.  For some odd reason here in the states we put them in mud.
February 14, 2016
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Janet Marsh-Lord
Janet Marsh-Lord Hi Karen. Yes I have heard that pigs make wonderful pets and are clean and intelligent. We have a commercial on in NZ that has a piglet in it and it is adorable. I understand pigs do love having a mud bath but can live in other surroundings very happily and keep clean.I guess it must depend on where you keep them and how much room they have. We are trying to outlaw inhumane conditions for pigs in NZ,such as breeding crates and tiny stalls.
February 14, 2016
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Karen Pasquinelli
Karen Pasquinelliedited: February 15, 2016 Hi Janet, thank you for sharing that.  Most people think pigs are very dirty animals and they are not.  When my Mom told me that it opened my eyes.  Mud baths are good for you I have heard, so I guess if a pig wanted a mud bath now and then it wouldn't hurt.  They do roll in the straw though too.  I hope they succeed in making it better for the pigs. God Bless
February 15, 2016
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Christina Ocasio
Christina Ocasio Amen!!!
February 14, 2016
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Cheryl Wilson
Cheryl Wilson Amen!
February 14, 2016
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Janet Marsh-Lord
Janet Marsh-Lord Thank you for this message.Being loved unconditionally is so wonderful. Thank you Lord
February 14, 2016
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Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus Amen!!!
February 14, 2016
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Malissa Birket
Malissa Birket Thank you for this message. You are a blessing to many Pastor Dion. God Bless!
February 14, 2016
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Rosemary Marsh
Rosemary Marsh Amen.Thank you Heavenly Father for your unconditional love and for your forgiveness ,whenI surrender all to you..Thank you for accepting me into your family,and That I can say that I am a child of Gods.Teach me your ways,and that I will do your will.Lord fill me a new with the Holy Spirit,and keep my heart on fire for you.in the name of Jesus  I pray.
February 14, 2016
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Mark Duell
Mark Duell Amen.
February 14, 2016
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Scott Riegelmann
Scott Riegelmann Thanku so much pastor for an awesome devotional and a reminder that were never too holy to get on our knees before God and truely repent for what ever sin we have done only you and God can judge that I found that a person living for the Lord knows in there heart of hearts when they do something right or wrong and its just a matter of being really honest with myself, and the faster I do that the sooner God puts his perfect love and peace in my heart again, Thanx pastor
February 14, 2016
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Lissy Verghese
Lissy Verghese Thank you, dear Pastor, for the great message!
February 14, 2016
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Celestina Ndunda
Celestina Ndunda Thank you Lord for your Servant Todd, may your continued grace come upon him and his family as they continue to reach out to many in JESUS NAME. Amen
February 15, 2016
  • 1
Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams Amen.  Praise God!  Thanks Pastor Dion!  Father forgive me, for I have sinned.
February 15, 2016
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Cheryl Hepler
Cheryl Hepler Amen!
February 15, 2016
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Rosemary Marsh
Rosemary Marsh Amen. Please Heavenly Father help me to meet up with someone who lives near here where I am living.As a prayer partner.,and friend.In Jesus name I pray.
February 15, 2016