Growing up as the child of a preacher had its challenges.
The idea of being labeled a ‘teachers pet’ or a ‘goody two shoes’ led me to say and do things to prove I wasn’t those things.
The scary part is I carried my rebellion against those labels into adulthood and continued down a destructive path.
Fortunately, God allowed me to see that my behavior was not indicative of who I am or whose I am.
In Luke 15:11-20,24 we see the redemption of a young man, who after forgetting who he was remembered whose he was:
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
“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. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
You can always turn to Jesus.
Prayer: Lord thank You, that no matter what I’ve said and done I am forgiven. Let me walk fully in Your forgiveness and mercy without shame.
Action: Do you have things that you regret? We all do. Instead of dwelling on those regrets, consider that what you regret most will be used to transform you into the person God wants you to be.
Frank Turner
Frank Turner is the founder of Break Bread, Break Chains and is the co-host of the following podcasts: Defund The Church, Relative Currency, Politically Entertaining, and Christ over Crypto. He is also the founder and creator of the op-ed site Fake News Syndicate.