New Year Series - A God Who is Gracious (Luke 15:11-31)

When Jesus walked on this earth, sinners of all backgrounds went to Him. The worse a person felt, the more likely they saw Jesus as a refuge. Sometimes the down-and-out, who flocked to Jesus when he lived on earth, no longer feel welcome among his followers. I wonder why ? When we relate what we do as earning God's support and love, we place a great emphasis on doing the right thing. Therefore we invent a system of rules. Before long we become the spiritual police of the church. Now it's true, God has given us a list of things to live by. Our behaviour is still important to Him. But He doesn't love us because we keep all the rules. We are not adopted into His family because we act correctly. God's unconditional love sets us all free. However, that same freedom is to be gifted to those around us.