"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." Luke 15:20

Dear Friend,

Our Lord Jesus told the parable of the prodigal son to show what a loving heart God has for you, me and all the sinful people of his world. Yes, the conscience he has given us convicts us of guilt and fills us with remorse for the selfish, ungrateful and wasteful way we have lived the lives our Father has given us. But God doesn't sit on the porch with arms crossed, waiting for us to crawl back to him so he can berate us - though we would deserve nothing less. HE has come to US with arms wide open! God did that by sending his Son Jesus to die for our sins. Because Jesus paid, God declares us forgiven. Today, through his Word, God still holds out his arms to us and every day offers us the reconciliation Christ accomplished once and for all so long ago.

Sound too good to be true? Too easy? It wasn't at all easy for Jesus. God's grace is free, but it wasn't cheap. But God wants to give us forgiveness and eternal life as his absolutely free gift. That's his way. So don't argue! Believe what he says!

"It is finished!" (John 19:30), Jesus said simply when he died. The writer to the Hebrews leaves us with no doubts that we are completely forgiven and saved because of what Jesus did, nothing more required: "We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Hebrews 10:10). God's forgiveness is guaranteed to all who do nothing but trust in what Jesus did: "To the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness." (Romans 4:5)

A great summary of God's way is found in Ephesians 2:8-10: "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. "  Being forgiven by God and saved from his just judgment is a gift God has already given us through Christ. If you believe in Jesus, even the faith that is in your heart is a gift from God. Now God's plan for us, his redeemed people, is that we serve him with all sorts of good works. By his Holy Spirit-filled Word, God teaches us what his will for our lives is and empowers us to do it. His plan is not "do good works and save yourself" but rather "I have saved you for a life of good works to thank me."

Breathe a big sigh of relief! You are at peace with God through Jesus!

Our greatest desire as sinners who have experienced our Father's forgiveness is to wrap the Father's longing and compassionate arms around you by connecting you to his Word. That is our mission as servants in Christ's Church here at St. Mark. Here are some online ways that God is reaching out to you with his Word:

Through My Bible - Email - Podcast : A daily reading that helps you read the whole Bible in three years.
Daily Devotions - Email - Podcast : A Bible reading, devotion, and prayer sent Monday through Friday by WELS and www.whataboutjesus.com.
Grace Moments - Email : A short Bible verse and application from Time of Grace ministries with Pastor Mark Jeske.

We offer much more at St. Mark, located on the corner of Ohio and Magnolia in Salina. Scroll over the "Connect" tab above! We hope to meet you in person soon. Why not this Sunday? "Now is the time of God's favor; now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2)