Day 5: Does God Still Love Me When I Mess Up?
7 DAYS OF GETTING TO KNOW GOD
DAY 5 OF 7 · Estimated time: 8–10 minutes
Your progress: 5 of 7 days
Does God Still Love Me When I Mess Up?
Ever made a decision you wish you could take back?
Maybe you said something hurtful.
Maybe you lied, broke someone's trust, or did something you knew wasn't right.
And afterward, you thought, Man, I really messed up.
Here's a question.
Does God stop loving us when we make bad choices?
What if we've made a lot of them?
That's what we're exploring today.
And Jesus tells a story that might surprise you.
Today's Reading
Luke 15
Read the entire chapter.
If you have a physical Bible, I recommend using it. It's easier to focus without notifications and other distractions. If you don't have one nearby, no worries. Use the link below.
As you're reading, pay attention to how people respond when something lost is found.
Let's Talk About It
All right, so you just read Luke 15.
At the beginning, some religious leaders are criticizing Jesus for spending time with sinners.
Basically, people they considered to be living the wrong way.
Instead of arguing with them, Jesus tells three stories.
One about a lost sheep.
One about a lost coin.
And one about a father and his two sons.
Notice something?
Every story involves something lost, and there's joy when it's found.
Now, let's talk about that last story.
The younger son asks his father for his inheritance early.
That's the money and property he would normally receive after his father's death.
Then he leaves home, wastes everything, and eventually finds himself with nothing.
Things get so bad that he decides to return home.
But he doesn't expect his father to welcome him back as a son.
He figures maybe his father will let him work as a servant.
And here's where things get interesting.
While the son is still far away, his father sees him and runs to meet him.
Instead of rejecting him, the father welcomes him home.
Now, does that mean the son's choices didn't matter?
Of course not.
He lost his money, damaged relationships, and experienced real consequences.
But his mistakes didn't erase his father's love.
Jesus is using this story to show us something about God's mercy.
And there's another part we shouldn't overlook.
The older brother gets angry about the celebration.
He stayed home, followed the rules, and doesn't think his younger brother deserves a welcome.
But the father reminds him that his brother was lost and has been found.
Jesus isn't just challenging people who've made bad choices. He's also challenging people who think they're better than everyone else.
That's worth thinking about.
Because sometimes we're the one who messed up.
And sometimes we're the one judging somebody else.
Think About It
Have you ever felt like you've messed up too badly to be forgiven?
Or have you ever struggled to forgive someone else?
What do you think Jesus wants us to understand through these stories?
Today's Challenge
Take one step toward making something right.
Maybe that means apologizing to someone.
Admitting you made a mistake.
Or choosing to forgive someone who's hurt you.
Now, forgiveness doesn't mean pretending something harmful was okay. And making things right doesn't always happen overnight.
But you can take one step today.
If you're willing, try praying:
God, I've made mistakes, and sometimes I don't know what to do about them. Help me understand Your mercy. Give me the courage to take responsibility for my choices and the humility to show others grace.
Before You Go
Five days down!
Here's something I want you to remember.
Making a bad choice doesn't mean you're beyond God's mercy.
But that doesn't mean our choices don't matter.
We can take responsibility, learn from our mistakes, and choose a different direction.
And if you've been judging somebody else for their mistakes?
Maybe it's time to show them a little grace, too.
Keep reading.
Keep asking questions.
And keep discovering what Jesus actually taught.
DAY 5 COMPLETE
UP NEXT: Day 6: What Does Following Jesus Mean? (John 15)
Please Rebel Responsibly.