Ep. 88 | A Forgiving God | Louder Than Words

Listen in as Robert Bradow shares today’s daily devotional featuring the song "A Forgiving God." Let’s be Formed by The Word together!

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Music has a unique way of touching the heart. A song can bring back a memory, lift our spirits, comfort us in a difficult season, or help us express what words alone cannot. That's one reason music has always been an important part of worship. Through the songs we sing, we celebrate God's goodness, declare his truth, and remind ourselves of his faithfulness. Over the past several weeks, we've been formed by God's Word as we've journeyed through Genesis. Over the next two weeks, while Pastor Eddie is away on a mission trip, several leaders from the Orchard Community Church will guide us through a special formed by the Word series called Louder Than Words. Together we'll explore the scriptures, truths, and personal stories behind some of the worship songs that have shaped our faith and encouraged our walk with Christ. Our prayer is that these devotions will help you listen more carefully to the songs you sing and deepen your appreciation for the God those songs celebrate. So wherever you're listening today, lean in and open your heart. The God who spoke in the beginning is still speaking today. Let's listen together.

SPEAKER_01 1:10

Hey, welcome to today's podcast of Songs We Sing. I want to spend a few minutes talking about one of the most powerful worship songs that preaches, that testifies, and most importantly glorifies our Heavenly Father. And on a daily basis, I believe it returns us to a place where we can bask in those oceans of grace that Jesus is constantly inviting us to swim in. It's a powerful song released by SEU Worship, that is from Southeastern University, and the title is A Forgiving God. That song is so much more than just a worship anthem. It's actually a musical retelling of one of the greatest stories that Jesus ever told. That's the story of the prodigal son that you know is in Luke chapter 15. Through simple lyrics and a melody that's easy to remember, this song reminds us of a truth that many people desperately need to hear. And it's no matter how far we've wandered, God is a forgiving God who always welcomes us home. So let's talk about the story that this song reflects. So immediately in the opening lyrics, we're taken to Luke 15, where Jesus tells the story of a son who demanded his inheritance now. He left his father's house and went away, and then he wasted everything through reckless living. Like the prodigal son, many people believe that freedom's found when we get away from God. You know, those moments where we can chase success and pleasure, relationships, money, or personal achievement, thinking that those things will satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts. Yet just like the prodigal son, we will eventually discover that what we were searching for was never found in that far country that we ventured to that was away from God. And the song captures this realization so beautifully because the lyrics say this searching for something I didn't know was under the roof of my father's home. Wow, what a powerful statement. The peace, the purpose, the love, the acceptance, and even the identity that we are all seeking. Everything we're constantly searching for in this world has always been available through our relationship with God. So in the story of the prodigal in Luke 15, the younger son leaves home and eventually he finds himself broken, he's empty, he's desperate, to the point that he's eating the leftovers that's in the pen with the pigs. And he finally decides, I've had enough, I'm going to return home. And then go and he puts together this plan because he's expecting his father to reject him. And he says, I know dad's not going to receive me. Maybe I'll just go as a servant. But that's not what happens at all. And this is where we see the identity of a loving father. Because Jesus tells us that while the son was still a long ways off, his father saw him. He got up from what he was doing. He ran to him and he embraced him and welcomed him home. That scene is reflected in the song's lyrics that says, My father ran to me and said, Welcome home. Something that he wasn't expecting at all. So the father in this story, of course, represents God, and the son represents every one of us. Yes, we've all sinned. Yes, we all wandered. Yes, we will continue to sin and we will continue to wander. We will continue to make decisions that will probably leave us broken, depraved, and maybe even feeling spiritually empty. But this is what's so powerful in the story is that Jesus gives us a picture of the grace and the mercy that is always ready to meet us, no matter how far we have wandered. I think so often we picture God standing at the door with his arms crossed, waiting to condemn us. I think sometimes we have a fear of God that we're afraid that he's going to say, I told you so, or now you're going to have to pay back, you're going to do some time for this, or how about giving some restitution? But in total contrast of what so many people would expect, God is patiently waiting for us to come to the realization of what life without him looks like. And he's sitting and he's waiting. And when he sees us in that place of humility, when we've been broken, when we've repented and turned away from the wandering, he gets up and he runs towards us with his overwhelming mercy fueled by his unending and unconditional love. It's that Romans 5-8 love that says that God demonstrates his own love for us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Yes, God's love moves towards us even in the moment where we don't deserve it. And then we get to the heart of the song. The Course repeatedly declares, He's never broke a promise. Listen, because he's calling. Jesus says he wants you and he's a forgiving God. That's really the heartbeat of the entire song. And the message is not that God tolerates sin, the message is that God's grace is greater than our sin. And all throughout scripture, we see this truth over and over and over again. David committed terrible sins and we see God constantly restoring him. Peter denied Jesus three times, and yet Jesus restores him. Paul persecuted and even killed Christians, yet God transformed him to one of the greatest apostles. The Bible's filled with stories of imperfect people who encountered a perfect Savior. So what we need to draw from the song is how God's forgiveness is not based on our performance. It's based on his character. He forgives because forgiveness is who he is. Now let me share with you what is the most powerful image and my favorite part of this song, because it gives an image of something that I believe we can all resonate with. It's found in the bridge of this song where they sing, He's been sitting on the porch, awaiting your arrival. You never left his heart. He'll come running out to meet you and throw his arms around you. You know why? It says it. Because he's a forgiving God. And what a beautiful picture. The father we see in Luke 15 must have been watching and waiting every day, looking upon the horizon, waiting for our son to return. And that image simply reminds us that God has never stopped loving us. He has never stopped pursuing us. Even in our rebellion, we never leave his heart. And maybe you find yourself in the midst of this song. Maybe you feel distance from God today. Maybe you took it away spiritually. Maybe you're carrying some guilt, some shame or regret or disappointment. Maybe you're living in one of those pig pens right now. You see, this bridge reminds us that God's not hiding from us. He's waiting for us. He's watching for us. He's ready to receive us and throw his arms around us and display his continual and unconditional grace is fueled by this love. So the encouragement for us today, what is the song speaking to us? Well, first, I believe it tells us that failure is not vital. The prodigal son, he failed spectacularly, but the story didn't end in failure. It ended in restoration. And secondly, it reminds us that our identity is found in being sons and daughters of God. The song says, no longer have to wander, calling sons and daughters. After all, he is the Father. Many people live in a reality of their spiritual orphans searching for acceptance and belonging. Yet the gospel reminds us that through Jesus Christ, we are adopted into God's family. And the last thing is simply calling us to come home. That repeated verse that we hear at the end of the song, just run to Jesus. Just run to Jesus. It may be the most simple invitation that's the most powerful in the entire song. Just run to Jesus. Not that we have to clean ourselves up first, just run to Jesus. Not try to earn your way back or come up with a plan. Just run to Jesus. Not that you have to prove your worth, just run to Jesus. Just turn away from the pig pens of life. Fix your eyes on home. And then we live out what we see in James 4.8, because when we draw near to God, we know that he draws near to us. We just run to Jesus. And that's exactly what the prodigal son did. And that's exactly what God invites us to do. So as we close, remembering daily that he is a forgiving God, it reminds us that Christianity is not just a story about human achievement. It's a story about divine grace. It's a story about a father who keeps his promises, a father who never stops loving his children, a father who watches and waits and then runs toward those who return to him. So no matter where you've been, what you've done, how far you've wandered, the message of this song remains powerfully true. Jesus wants you. The Father welcomes you because he is indeed a forgiving God. Hey, thanks for joining me today, and I pray that you've been encouraged by this truth that God's grace is greater than your failures, and his arms are always open for those who come home. Never forget he is a forgiving God.

SPEAKER_00 9:09

Thanks for joining us today. We are so glad that you chose to spend a few moments with us in God's Word. If this episode has encouraged you, we ask that you leave us a review or maybe share this episode with a friend. Also, would you consider sending us a note to let us know what God is doing in your life? Pastor Eddie would love to hear from you. You can find this email in the show notes. Until next time, stay in the scriptures, keep following Christ, and allow your life to be formed by the Word.