Going back to the Father you have offended; to the God who loves you saying: “I’ve made a mess of my life. I can’t run my own life. I sinned against you. I need you.”
The wonderful thing is, he planned to say to the Father ‘make me as one of your hired servants.’
But his Father was watching for him from far off, and as he got closer, he ran to meet his son.
This is such a beautiful image of how God is. When we begin to turn, he’s watching for us. The father saw him a long way off and ran to meet him. That’s how God is. That’s how he meets us. And he kissed him, and he never let him say “let me be one of your servants.’
No, he said, “Bring out the best robe, kill the fatted calf, put a ring on his finger and sandals on him.” That’s the result of true repentance.
It’s worth repenting to be welcomed like that by God.
So,
1) “He came to himself. ” He said basically, “I made a mess of my life. I wasted everything my father gave me.” He faced the truth of what he did. He didn’t blame anyone else or try to hide from it any longer.
2) Then he took action. He didn’t just sit there in self-pity. He said “But I’m going to make a decision to turn around and go back to my Father and say I’m sorry; and he turned and went.”
