He made the long journey home, the apology repeating in his head: “Dad, I’m sorry. Dad, forgive me.”

In his youthful arrogance, he thought he knew what he wanted. And it wasn’t his father’s rules. So he begged for his inheritance early, and his father reluctantly gave him his wish. The son practically ran to the farthest city.

And there he did it all. But the money ran out, and so did his friends. Suddenly his home, where he had been loved, didn’t look so bad. Broken and starving, he started home, terrified. Had the locks been changed? Were the gates tightly shut?

But someone was waiting for him. Night after night. Watching. Hoping. Finally, face-to-face, father and son fell into each other’s arms, weeping. “I have sinned against heaven and against you,” the son whispered. “I am no longer worthy to be called your son” (Luke 15:21). But the reply was drenched in grace: “Let’s have a feast and celebrate,” his dad cried, “for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (verses 23,24).

We may never have blown our inheritance and fled from home, but we’ve all attempted life apart from God, our sin erecting a barrier to his love. But because of Jesus’ redeeming work, God throws his arms wide. All is forgiven. We are his.

Are you living apart from your Father? No matter what you’ve done, the doors are unlocked and the gates are open. God’s full and free forgiveness is waiting for you.