| In the 1991 film Boyz n the Hood, brothers Darrin (Doughboy), and Ricky Baker journey on divergent paths. Ricky is a standout football player with a scholarship offer from USC awaiting his acceptance. Darrin is a gang member with a checkered past, which included serving a 7 year prison sentence. After Ricky is killed in a retaliatory act by a rival gang, Darrin bears the brunt of the blame. Though he later exacts revenge on his brother’s killers, afterwards he laments that there is no true path for him to find redemption. Luke 15:11-24 also tells a story of brothers on a divergent path, with one brother regretfully wondering whether his previous actions are beyond redemption: 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. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’“ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. In Christ there is always a chance for redemption. |
Prayer |
| Lord Jesus, thank You for Your sacrifice! Because of Your death and resurrection I am forever redeemed. Let me not forget that as I experience the trials and tribulations that life so often brings. |
ActionIs there anything in your life that feels beyond redemption?Marriage? Parenting? Finances? This week ask God to give you fresh revelation on how to overcome the challenge in these areas. |
DID YOU KNOW? – BREAK BREAD TRIVIA |
| At 24 years old, the late John Singelton was the youngest and first African American to be nominated for an Academy Award as best director. |
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.