The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 26 February 2020 – TOPIC: NO PLACE LIKE HOME

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DATE: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020
(Ash Wednesday)
TOPIC: NO PLACE LIKE HOME
READ: LUKE 15:11-24 (NKJV)

11. Then 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 falls [to me.’] So he divided to them [his] livelihood.
13. “And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.
14. “But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.
15. “Then 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 gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him [anything.]
17. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18. ‘I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,
19. “and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ‘
20. “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still 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 to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22. “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put [it] on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on [his] feet.
23. ‘And bring the fatted calf here 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.

THE MESSAGE:

Today is Ash Wednesday, a Christian Holy day of prayer, fasting and repentance. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and marks the beginning of Lent. It takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday and is a golden opportunity for coming back of whoever has drifted from the source – Christ.

Today’s reading presents before us the popular story of the boy that left home popularly known as the “prodigal son”, a name he obtained based on the wasteful life he lived. He must have been on top of his world, swimming in the affluence of the wealthy possession that he had acquired not knowing that tough time lay ahead of him. Just as soon as he was dry and empty, came the famine. The situation was so severe that he joined himself to a stranger and would have been glad to dine with the pigs. Poor him, a wealthy man’s son reduced to the worst pauper! But the good thing is that he came back to his senses, swallowed the shame and pride and found his way home.
As he experienced famine outside home, we cannot strive where the grace of God cannot keep us. No matter how far you stray from God, you can still find your way back to HIM. Child of God, you can use this Lenten season starting today as a means of returning to the Father. As this prodigal was welcomed with love, you too will experience an unspeakable joy and love from the Father. Welcome back home.

PRAYER: Father, I come to You. Please help me to experience Your grace and compassion through Jesus Christ, Amen.