You’re probably familiar with that story found in Luke 15, told by Jesus, of the ‘prodigal son’. A certain man had two sons, and the younger of the two got it in his head that he needed/wanted/deserved his inheritance up front; so his father gave it to him. And off he went traveling to a ‘far country’ where he ‘wasted all that he had.’ When famine struck, he found himself in a desperate place and ended up feeding pigs for a citizen of the country whom he hired himself out to. (11-15)

It was only a matter of time before this young prodigal ‘came to his senses’, confronted his sins and foolishness and with a broken and humble heart...he resolved to return to his father and confess his sins to him, hoping...that he might at least be welcomed back as a ‘servant’, since he saw himself as no longer ‘worthy to be a son’ (Luke 15:17-19).

Let’s pause here for a moment as I interject something for you to consider: Probably one of the dumbest, silliest, and most fruitless conversations (or debates) you could be lured into having here is: “had the young son died while out dining with the pigs, would he still have gone to heaven since he was still a son”? That... is between that young man and God. What we do know is this: The father said his son was ‘dead’ to him (24). Ephesians 2:1-3 says the same thing about all who are apart from God and living for the flesh... and those who continue to live for the flesh...will die (Rom. 8:13; Gal. 5:21).

Thankfully, the story did not end there as we read where the son makes the long journey home back to his father; a father I might add...who never stopped looking for him to return (20). And what a homecoming it was as we read in vs.21-24.

This is a beautiful display of what true repentance looks like, and how God responds when it takes place in any of our lives. Why, even the angels in heaven get in on the celebrating (Luke 15:10). Not only did the young son find his way back to his father’s property, he soon found himself wrapped up in the loving embrace of his father’s arms before he was taken into the house. And what a welcome he received.

Here is what many have failed to recognize about sin and its effects, which are numerous (John 5:14). Our sins ‘separate us from God’ (Isa. 59:2). True repentance, (turning away from those sins) bring us back into His presence; and ‘in His presence, there is fulness of joy’ (Ps. 16:11). Now go back and read that verse I shared here yesterday from Acts 3:19; you might also revisit James 4:7-10. I’ll wait here for you.

This is where human intellect and reasoning usually come in to play. Theologians will want to assure you that while sin may ‘alter’ the current relationship one might have with the Father, it does not change one’s status as a ‘son’. In other words, ‘once a son, always a son (or child)’; which sounds great. But scripture does not really support that given the true children of God are those who are ‘led by His Spirit’ (Rom. 8:14)...and no longer continue to practice sin (1 John 3:9; 5:18).

But now I want to shift the focus of this study to this idea of ‘being led by the Spirit’. What does that even look like and how does it work? And let me encourage you here: this is not ‘spiritual rocket science’, nor is it all about getting solely up in your ‘emotional feels’, which many people can easily end up doing.

When a person sees the depth of truth surrounding our condition being separated from God (John 3:36) and then our hearts are broken and humbled in the most genuine fashion, it’s only a matter of time before you are ushered in to God’s presence, and you will know it when it happens; Trust me! Remember, it’s God’s kindness that leads us to this place (Rom. 2:4).

And it gets better - He invites us to remain...or ‘abide’ in that place of His presence, so that He can begin the work of ‘cleaning us up’ (John 15:1-8). You should also note that this requires a 100% total heart surrender to Him, no strings attached. And He will test you to see how serious you are (Deut. 8:2; 1 Thess. 2:4).

So how does He ‘test’ us? Well, look at James 1:2-4; where he lays it out nicely. As you are learning how this abiding walk with Jesus ‘works’, you continue to keep your mind ‘fixed on Him, where ‘perfect peace’ is found. (Isa. 26:3; Col. 3:1-2; Phil. 4:6-7). And when these little ‘tests’ spring up, it’s not uncommon to get a ‘heads up warning’ from the Holy Spirit, along with a short word of instruction as to how to respond to this ‘test’. I might also add that in those early days...the advice given most often will be ‘keep your mouth shut’.

Let’s be honest here- how often do some if the biggest ‘skirmishes’ that blow up in our homes start with a few sharp words? You just ‘had to go there and say that’...and you knew it the moment you were opening your mouth. James expounds upon this ‘unruly member’ of ours (the tongue) in his third chapter. But even in his opening greeting, we are admonished to be ‘slow to speak and quick to listen’ (1:19).

If there was one verse in the Bible...where if we simply obeyed it....that could bring instant and significant changes in our lives...it would be Ephesians 4:29: "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." And what if we applied to not only what we spoke, but also what posted on social media?.

I have shared in the past how one of those ‘Canaanite nations’ on the ‘land of my heart’ that God began to deal with early on...was ‘pride’. Pride always has to get the ‘last word in’; pride always has to be right. Pride always wants to defend itself....and pride often times manifest itself through that one unruly member of our body...our tongue. IF we could just learn to quiet our voices down, we might be in a better position to hear His voice. And let me assure you...those who are the true ‘sheep of His flock’...they hear His voice...and they also follow/obey! (John 10:27). This ‘obeying thing’...really is... ‘a thing’ with God. (Heb. 5:9)