Read Luke 15:11-32 (NLT)
Coming to our senses
"When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘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....”’ Luke 15:17-19 (NLT)
What caused the son to come to his senses? Was it hunger? Was it the humiliation of being with the pigs?
I believe that hunger and humiliation were the physical manifestation of something spiritual.
It was repentance that made him come to his senses.
We are created to be in fellowship with God. The void in our godless life can only be filled to our satisfaction when we return to that relationship. God provides a way for all sinner to return to that position - repentance.
Repentance is a response - the God-given but human-controlled ability to say, "Father, I was wrong, please forgive me." Godly sorrow leads us away from sin and results in salvation. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death... 2 Cor 7:10(NLT).
The Holy Spirit is the One who can light that fuse that brings us to our senses and bring us to repentance. God does all these so that we can respond to His love for us.
David experienced it and cried out in repentance, "For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight." Psalm 51:3-4 (NLT)
We cannot repent by planning good works (the son wanted to be a hired servant of his father). We can only repent if we allow the Holy Spirit to convict us, in-dwell us and empower us to true repentance.
We are all the work-in-progress redeemed people. We must allow the Holy Spirit to in-dwell and empower us. Whenever we walk out of line, the Holy Spirit will bring us to our senses and to repentance.
God bless.
Steven
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