Returning Home: Embracing God's Relentless Love

Devotional

Day 1: The Hidden Cost of Choosing Freedom Without God

Turning away from God may feel like a step toward freedom or fulfillment, but it inevitably leads to loss. When we leave the safety and security of God’s presence, we expose ourselves to pain, disappointment, and brokenness that could have been avoided. This is not a punishment from God, but the natural consequence of stepping outside His protection. The story of the prodigal son illustrates how leaving God’s care results in losing blessings and love that were always available. Recognizing this truth helps us understand that running from God is a choice with predictable consequences, and it invites us to reconsider where true freedom is found. [39:44]

“Because you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,’ not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”
— Revelation 3:17 (ESV)

Reflection: What are some areas in your life where you have chosen your own way over God’s protection? How might acknowledging the cost of these choices help you take a step back toward His safety today?

Day 2: Recognizing the Patterns Behind Our Flight from God

The reasons people run from God are many and varied—rebellion against boundaries, disappointment with others, peer pressure, addiction, or simply a habit formed over time. Despite the diversity of causes, the outcome is often the same: bad decisions, failed plans, and a deep sense of emptiness. Understanding these patterns in your own life or in those you care about is crucial because it opens the door to healing and restoration. When you identify why you run, you can begin to break the cycle and take the first steps toward coming home to God’s love and purpose. [33:19]

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
— Psalm 84:11 (ESV)

Reflection: Can you identify a recurring reason or pattern that causes you to distance yourself from God? What is one practical step you can take today to interrupt that pattern and move toward restoration?

Day 3: Overcoming Shame and Fear to Embrace God’s Welcome

Often, the greatest barrier to returning to God is not His rejection but our own shame and fear of judgment from others. The enemy uses guilt to trap us in isolation, convincing us that we are too far gone to be accepted. Yet God’s heart is different—He calls His people to celebrate and welcome those who return, not to condemn them. Understanding this truth can free you from the weight of shame and open your heart to receive God’s relentless love and forgiveness. You are invited to come home, not as a perfect person, but as one deeply loved and fully accepted. [56:00]

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
— Romans 8:1 (ESV)

Reflection: What shame or fear is holding you back from fully embracing God’s forgiveness? Who in your life might you encourage to experience God’s welcome by sharing this truth with them?

Day 4: God’s Relentless Pursuit of Restoration

The father in the parable does not wait for explanations or apologies; he runs to meet his son with open arms. This reveals the heart of God—relentless, compassionate, and eager to restore broken relationships. No matter how far you have wandered, God’s love is greater, and His desire is always to bring you back into relationship with Him. This truth invites you to stop running and to trust that God’s restoration is available now, not based on your worthiness but on His grace and mercy. [59:52]

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
— Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you resisted God’s pursuit of you? How can you respond today by opening your heart to His restoration and love without hesitation?

Day 5: The Resurrection: The Open Door to New Life

Easter is not only about a son returning but about a Father who runs toward His children. Jesus’ death and resurrection prove that no distance is too great and no sin too deep for God’s love to reach. The empty tomb stands as the ultimate assurance that anyone can come home, find forgiveness, and step into a new life filled with hope and purpose. This invitation is extended to you today—no matter your past, God’s door is open wide, and He is waiting with open arms to welcome you into a transformed life. [01:08:17]

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

Reflection: What old habits, regrets, or identities do you need to leave behind to fully embrace the new life Jesus offers? How can you take one concrete step today toward living in the hope of resurrection?

Sermon Summary

Summary

At Focus Church, faith is not just about knowing and loving God, but about putting that faith into action—making a tangible difference in the world around us. One way we do this is by supporting those who have aged out of the foster care system, providing them with blessing bags filled with essentials as they step into adulthood alone. This spirit of action is rooted in the heart of the gospel, which calls us not only to believe, but to respond with compassion and generosity.

Today, the focus is on the theme of “coming home,” especially for those who have run away from God. Using the parable of the prodigal son from Luke 15, we see a vivid picture of what it means to turn away from God—leaving behind safety, security, blessing, and love. The story is not just about a wayward son, but about all of us who, at times, have chosen our own way over God’s. The reasons for running are many: feeling restricted by God’s boundaries, disappointment with people, poor relationship choices, addiction, or simply the habit of running when life gets tough. Yet, the consequences are predictable—bad decisions, loss, failed plans, shame, and loneliness.

But the story doesn’t end in the pig pen. The turning point comes when the runaway “comes to his senses” and decides to return home, even if it means coming back in humility. The heart of God is revealed in the father who runs to embrace his returning son, filled with love and compassion, not condemnation. This is the invitation extended to every runaway: no matter how far you’ve gone or how long you’ve been away, you can always come home. The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate proof that there is no distance too great for God’s love to reach. The empty tomb is God’s declaration that the door is always open, and He is waiting with open arms.

This is a call to stop running, to turn back, and to experience the hope, forgiveness, and purpose that only God can give. Whether you are the one who has run or you are praying for someone who has, there is hope. God’s love is relentless, and His invitation is clear: come home.

---

Key Takeaways

1. Running from God is a Choice with Predictable Consequences Turning away from God may seem like a path to freedom or fulfillment, but it inevitably leads to loss—of safety, security, blessing, and love. The story of the prodigal son shows that when we step outside of God’s protection, we expose ourselves to pain and disappointment that could have been avoided. The consequences are not God’s punishment, but the natural result of leaving His presence. [39:44]
2. The Reasons We Run Are Many, but the Pattern Is the Same Whether it’s rebellion against boundaries, disappointment with people, peer pressure, addiction, or simply a learned habit, the reasons for running from God are diverse. Yet, the outcome is strikingly similar: bad decisions, failed plans, and a sense of emptiness. Recognizing these patterns in our own lives or in those we love can be the first step toward returning home. [33:19]
3. Shame and Fear Are the Biggest Barriers to Returning Often, the greatest obstacle to coming home is not God’s willingness to receive us, but our own shame and fear of what others will think. The enemy uses guilt to keep us stuck in the pig pen, believing we are too far gone. But the truth is, God’s people are called to celebrate and welcome the returning, not to judge or shame them. [56:00]
4. God’s Heart Is Always for Restoration, Not Condemnation The father in Jesus’ story doesn’t wait for an explanation or an apology—he runs to meet his son with open arms. This is the heart of God: relentless, compassionate, and eager to restore. No matter how far we’ve wandered, God’s love is greater, and His desire is always to bring us back into relationship with Him. [59:52]
5. The Resurrection Is God’s Ultimate Invitation to Come Home Easter is not just about a son returning, but about a Father who runs toward His children. Jesus’ death and resurrection prove that there is no distance too great, no sin too deep, for God’s love to reach. The empty tomb is the assurance that anyone can come home, find forgiveness, and step into a new life of hope and purpose. [68:17]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Faith in Action: Blessing Bags for Foster Youth
[05:30] - Introduction to “Come Home” Series
[08:45] - What Does It Mean to Run Away?
[13:00] - The Parable of the Prodigal Son: Setting the Scene
[18:30] - Why People Run from God
[27:28] - Jesus’ Three Parables: Lost Sheep, Coin, and Son
[31:24] - The Cost of Leaving Home
[35:56] - Real Stories of Running Away
[39:44] - Consequences of Running from God
[50:00] - Failed Plans and Unexpected Outcomes
[56:00] - Shame, Loneliness, and the Pig Pen
[59:01] - Coming to Your Senses: The Turning Point
[68:17] - The Father’s Pursuit: Easter and the Open Door
[72:02] - Responding to God’s Invitation
[75:45] - Reflection, Giving, and Worship

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 15:11-24 (NLT) — (The Parable of the Prodigal Son)

Observation Questions

In the parable, what did the younger son ask his father for, and what did he do after receiving it?
According to the story, what were some of the consequences the son experienced after leaving home?
What was the father’s reaction when he saw his son returning home?
In the sermon, what are some reasons people run away from God, as shared through real-life stories?

Interpretation Questions

The son’s decision to leave home led to loss of safety, security, blessing, and love. Why do you think Jesus chose to highlight these specific losses in the story?
The sermon mentions that shame and fear are often the biggest barriers to returning home. Why do you think these feelings are so powerful, and how do they keep people from coming back to God?
The father in the story runs to meet his son with compassion instead of waiting for an apology. What does this reveal about God’s heart toward those who have wandered away?
The resurrection of Jesus is described as God’s ultimate invitation to come home. How does the empty tomb connect to the message of the prodigal son?

Application Questions

The sermon talked about “faith in action” by providing blessing bags for foster youth. What is one practical way you can put your faith into action this week, either for someone in need or in your own community?
Think about a time when you felt like running from God or actually did. What was your main reason for running, and what were the consequences you experienced?
Are there any boundaries or “rules” from God that you currently find restrictive or hard to accept? How do you usually respond when you feel this way?
The sermon said that running from God leads to predictable patterns—bad decisions, loss, failed plans, shame, and loneliness. Can you identify any of these patterns in your own life or in someone you care about? What would it look like to “come to your senses” in that situation?
Shame and fear can keep us from returning to God or to church. Is there an area in your life where shame or fear is holding you back from taking a step toward God or others? What would help you move past that barrier?
The father’s response was to run and embrace his son, not to lecture or condemn. How can you show this kind of grace to someone in your life who may have “run away”—whether from God, family, or friendship?
The resurrection means the door is always open to come home. Is there someone you are praying for who is far from God? How can you encourage them or keep hope alive for their return?

Sermon Clips

Jesus lived a perfect life, but instead of receiving a crown, he was given a cross. He suffered and bled and died, not because he ran away from God, but because we did. [01:08:17] (16 seconds) Edit Clip

But that's not the end of the story. You see, on the third day, Sunday, Jesus rose from the grave, came back to life, conquering sin and death, proving once for all that there is no distance too far for God's love to reach. The empty tomb is his declaration to every runaway that you can come home. The door is open. The father is watching and he's waiting. Easter. [01:08:33] (29 seconds) Edit Clip

And most of the time, shame is the biggest hurdle for a runaway. They might think, I would love to come home, but what will people think? What will they say? Hey, I'm going to be thinking, I'm just so ashamed. How could I be so stupid? And yeah, I might have been stupid, but don't ever let guilt and shame keep you away. You can't run forever. Come home. [00:56:32] (26 seconds) Edit Clip

no matter who it is that has run from god everyone who runs from god loses something they got every that's the thing that's in common of everyone who runs from god they all lost something some lost money some lost their families some lost their kids some lost their marriages some lost their job or their careers some lost their businesses some lost friends some lost their innocence some lost their reputation over and over their story is how much they lost when you run from god you lose and it's painful to watch verse 14 about the time his money ran out a great famine swept over the land and he began to starve other words he is hungry scott had no money and he never even considered that to be a possibility but all his plans for fun and friends it all failed because that's what happens when you run from god your plans fail [00:48:04] (71 seconds) Edit Clip

But regardless of the reason why someone runs, there's nothing so sad as to watch someone running away. You know why? Because we can see that and see and know what's going to happen. You can predict the end result. [00:38:34] (18 seconds) Edit Clip

That they have had a period where they loved God and they served God and they're all in with God, but then for some reason they get tempted to see the grass is greener on the other side, or, hey, I don't need God as much anymore. Hey, I don't need to follow Him. I don't need to obey. Sometimes it's something where it's just like a little bit at a time, and other times it's something where it's like, no, God, I hate you. I'm done. [00:32:11] (23 seconds) Edit Clip

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?