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Grace Runs to the Broken—Not the Boastful
The Prodigal Got the Party—Why the “Good” Son Missed Grace
Who Truly Receives God’s Grace?
The Prodigal Son dragged himself home, expecting nothing more than a servant’s job and a roof over his head. Instead, he ran straight into the arms of a wildly loving, extravagantly forgiving father who threw a celebration feast in his honor.
Meanwhile, the father went searching for his oldest son and found a bitter, boastful, pride-filled servant—standing outside, angry that grace had been given so freely to his broken brother.
Today many in the church still lift up the commandment-keeping elder brother as the gold standard of faith while quietly (or loudly) condemning the Prodigal. But Jesus’ parable forces us to ask a piercing question: which of the two sons actually received and experienced the love and grace the father had longed to give them both?
The answer is clear: only the humble one. The one who knew he was lost, undeserving, and bankrupt. The one who came home empty-handed and broken.
“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12).
Grace doesn’t go to the proud performer. Grace runs to the honest failure who simply comes home.
The Only Truth Powerful Enough to Free You
The truth that sets people free isn’t a doctrine, a verse, or a theology. It’s a Person. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Knowing Jesus personally is what breaks chains. Only He has the power to deliver you from sin, shame, and bondage. Apostle Paul understood this deeply when he wrote:
“That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Philippians 3:10).
This is the invitation today: move beyond simply knowing about Jesus to truly knowing Him. Make a quality decision in your heart to pursue an intimate relationship with the living Christ. You will never be disappointed. The truth that brings freedom is found in a real, daily relationship with Jesus.
“Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
Prayer: Jesus, You are the Truth. I will never again settle for knowledge about You instead of knowing You intimately. Draw me closer today. Let me experience Your resurrection power and freedom in every area of my life. My heart’s desire is to know You more. Amen.
6 reminders from all 6 chapters of Galatians
1. Don’t live for others’ approval. (Gal. 1:10)
2. Your past does not define you. (Gal. 2:20)
3. Your worth is in Christ, not your job. (Gal. 3:27)
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You are no longer a slave; you are a child of God. (Gal. 4:7)
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Don’t be led by feelings; be led by the Holy Spirit. (Gal. 5:26)
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Don’t grow weary in doing good. When the
time is right, you will reap what you have sown. (Gal. 6:9)
@saltandlight.words
God Isn’t Looking for Perfect– He’s Offering Perfect Love
Is it Possible to Be Loved Perfectly?
Yes–and that changes everything. We all know there’s no such thing as a perfect person. Only Jesus walked the earth in perfect sinlessness, yet He loved imperfect people with a perfect love that began to make them whole.
God isn’t searching for perfect performance. He’s looking for people who will simply receive His perfect love.
“There is no fear in love (dread does not exist). But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves (the expectation of divine) punishment, so the one who is afraid (Of God’s judgment) is not perfected in love (has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love). We love, because He first loved us.”
I John 4:18-19 (AMP)
God isn’t waiting for you to become flawless before He loves you. He wants to pour out His perfect, complete, and fear-destroying love on you right now–with all your flaws, failures, and fears still showing.
When you truly receive this perfect love, fear loses its grip. Shame, dread of punishment, and insecurity begin to melt away. You start loving others naturally because you finally understand you are loved perfectly by Him. Ed Elliot
Garbage in Garbage OUT
When I got my first computer many years ago, there was a common expression used called “Garbage in and garbage out.”
This term referred to erasing old information on the hard drive to be able to reformat the computer with new information. The principle also applies to us as believers. We are instructed by Scripture to renew our minds with God’s Word. In fact, Jesus said those who would be identified as His disciples are those who continue in and follow His words.
“Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed in him, if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free: (John 8:31-32).
When we renew our minds to God’s Word, we start a process that aligns our hearts with His truth, and our lives are transformed!
This transformation is known as freedom.
Ed Elliot
WHY LIVE HOLY
If the only reasons you pursue a holy life are fear of punishment or hope of bigger blessings and rewards, something is seriously off.
That kind of “holiness” exposes a shaky foundation built on fear and greed, not on truth and love. It turns God into a cosmic scorekeeper instead of a loving Father.
True holiness isn’t manufactured through gritted teeth and white-knuckle discipline. It’s the natural overflow, the beautiful fruit, of a vibrant, healthy relationship with God. You can’t force fruit to grow by yelling at the tree. It grows when the tree is rooted in rich soil, bathed in sunlight, and watered consistently. The same is true for us. Holiness blossoms when we stay connected to the Vine.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
The Pharisees wore holiness like a costume. They looked the part, talked the talk, and impressed the crowds, but they didn’t know God. They tried to impress Him with their rigid rules and self-righteous sacrifices.
Real holiness is the opposite: It flows from being utterly impressed by God, captivated by His beauty, overwhelmed by His love, and transformed by His presence. You stop trying to earn His approval and start living from it.
Beloved, let us (unselfishly) love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves (others) is born of God and knows God (through personal experience). The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God (does not and never did know Him), for God is love. (He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.) I John 4:7-8 AMP
Ed Elliot
Knowing His Name
“I will protect those who trust in my name.” Psalm 91:14
Our Lord Jesus came to reveal the name “Father.” Father speaks of family and of closeness and intimacy.
You can know God as Elyon, the Most High. As El Shaddai, God Almighty. As Yehovah, the Lord, the covenant-keeping God. As Elohim, the mighty Creator of the heavens and the earth.
Every name is significant, as each one reveals a wonderful aspect of our God. But when you know God as Father, all His virtues, attributes, and power work for you to set you on high and deliver you.
Our Lord Jesus prayed, “Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You, Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are”(John 17:11).
The Greek word for “keep” here is the word tereo, which means to attend to carefully, to take care of, to guard, to watch, and to preserve. What is the name through which you can be kept guarded and protected?
Beloved, I want you to know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have a heavenly Father who loves you, who gave up His all for you, and who is vigilantly watching over you!
He is your Father. Your Daddy. Your Abba. Joseph Prince
God’s Love Makes You a New Creation
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!”
2 Corinthians 5:17
God’s love doesn’t just forgive your past; it rewrites your identity. You are no longer defined by your mistakes, addictions, or old labels. In Christ, you are a brand-new person: forgiven, adopted into God’s family, and empowered by His Spirit His love transforms you from the inside out, turning shame into sonship and fear into freedom. Never forget who you now are because of Him.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for making me new. Help me live out of this new identity instead of the old one. Fill me with Your love so I can walk in the freedom You’ve given me. Amen
The truths I have shared this week are worth memorizing and returning to often. Meditate on the Scriptures, speak them out loud, and let them reshape how you see yourself and your heavenly Father.
Ed Elliot
It’s Written on Your Heart
For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13
God has made it so easy for us in the new covenant to be directed by His wisdom and love. We no longer have to run to prophets to find out His will for us. He Himself leads us!
For those of you who want to serve the Lord, but don’t know where to start, just ask yourself what is in your heart. If you have a desire to work among children, then do so. As a new covenant believer, that’s how your Father leads you. He puts His laws in your mind and writes them on your heart!
Perhaps you feel a prompting to bless someone financially, even though the person looks prosperous. Follow that prompting because today, God speaks directly, and He has made it easy for you to know His will through His promptings in your heart.
We all know how looks can be deceiving. For example, many con artists believe that church folks are gullible. Therefore, they dress down with a well-rehearsed sob story so as to move you to give to them.
On the other hand, there are noble people who dress on Sundays to honor the occasion, but they may be in dire straits financially. Hence, we need to follow the promptings of our hearts and not the sight of our eyes.
So when you feel a desire to do something good for someone, do it, knowing that you have a brand-new heart that hears God, and that it is God who works for you with both the willingness and the ability to do it!
Joseph Prince
What Broken People Need to Know
Jesus proclaimed that He came to heal the brokenhearted (Luke 4:18). I have met many believers in Jesus who have had their hearts broken. They may have been betrayed, or they may have failed in life somewhere and now struggle to forgive themselves.
A spiritual reality that can heal their broken hearts is trusting in the righteousness they were made to be when they first believed the gospel. Being righteous doesn’t mean you will never fail again. What it means is that when you fall, you have the power and confidence to get back up again and move forward with life, knowing that God is for you, not against you.
“If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
We have all fallen, made mistakes, and yielded to sin at times, but none of that has ever caused God to change His mind about us, nor has it stopped Him from loving us.You are never so broken that God can’t fix, restore, and heal you. Leave the pity party, rejoice with Him, and fellowship in His goodness toward you. Ed Elliot
A BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY
Living by faith is a glorious journey God invites us to walk with Him. What makes it so exciting and enjoyable is the fact that He loves us as we are, and He loves us too much to leave us the way we are.
When you understand this freeing truth, you can rest in the peace it supplies, knowing that His love for you transforms you from the inside out.
So enjoy the journey!
Let me hear of your unfailing love every morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Psalm 143:8
Cast Down or Get Cast Down!
When we entertain or meditate on thoughts from our past that give birth to negative emotions within us, and we do not cast them down as Scripture instructs, those thoughts can cause us to disconnect from our true identity in Christ. We take these negative thoughts captive so they don’t capture us.
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
The knowledge of God reveals who we are in Christ. Understanding our identity empowers us to take negative thoughts captive and reject them–casting them down because they are contrary to what God’s Word declares about who we are and what we possess in Christ.
Ed Elliot
GOD BLESSES YOU, THE RIGHTEOUS
Blessings are on the head of the righteous.
Proverbs 10:6
Whenever you find a promise or blessing for the righteous in the Bible, grab hold of it by saying, “Father, I receive this blessing in Jesus’ name!”
Let me show you how to practice this. When you read in Proverbs 10:6 that blessings are on the head of the righteous, say, “Thank you, Father, this promise is for ME because I have been made righteous through faith in Jesus and His finished work!”
So every day, instead of fearing that lack will devour you, expect God’s provision and blessings to hunt you down and surround you! Expect good things to happen to you. Say, “Father, I thank You that Your blessings crown my head. Your bountiful provisions are upon me and my household!”
Beloved, the more you begin to believe and speak words of abundance, provision, and increase, the more you will experience the full blessings of the righteous!
The Local Church as a Place of Refuge
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20
The Old Testament cities of refuge reveal a beautiful picture of Christ as our protection. Now let me show you another type hidden in the teaching on the cities of refuge, and that is the picture of the local church.
The six cities are scattered across the land so a person can flee to the nearest one to take refuge. It is a picture of local churches scattered all around the world. The local church, my friend, is a place of refuge.
The church is not man’s idea; it is God’s idea. It is a place where all the guilty, those who are suffering from condemnation, and those who are being pursued can come and take refuge.
You see, it is not God’s heart for you to take this journey of faith on your own. Certainly, you can learn a lot by reading books or watching sermons online, but God’s heart is for you to be part of a community of faith.
In the Father’s house, people experience healing, breakthroughs, protection, and other blessings. God the Father raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named (Eph,. 1:21). This means that Jesus is far above all sicknesses, all diseases, all terror, all snares, all cancers, all depression, and all addictions.
We all agree that our Lord is above every name, but on this earth, where does this power and dominion reside? The apostle Paul declares, “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph. 1:22-23).
Where is this power today in our broken and fallen world? It is found in the church! His power, His authority, and His fullness are all found in the church–our city of refuge, where we can run to and find divine protection!
Joseph Prince
Anoint My Head with Oil
A good friend of mine shared this recently and I thought it was too good not to share it with you.
“Thou anointest my head with oil” (Psalm 23:5).
Sheep can get their heads caught in barriers and die trying to get untangled. There are horrid little flies that like to torment sheep by laying eggs in their nostrils, which turn into worms and drive the sheep to beat their heads against a rock, sometimes to death. Their ears and eyes are also susceptible to tormenting insects. So the shepherd anoints their whole head with oil. Then there is peace. That oil forms a barrier of protection against the evil that tries to destroy the sheep.
Do you have times of mental torment? Do the worrisome thoughts invade your mind over and over? Do you beat your head against a wall trying to stop them? Have you ever asked God to anoint your head with oil? He has an endless supply!
His oil protects and makes it possible for you to fix your heart, mind, and eyes on Him today and always! There is peace in the valley! May our good Father anoint your head with oil today so that your cup overflows with blessings! God is good, and He is faithful. Ed Elliot
I Touched God Today
I touched God today.
She sat across from me in a chair,
despair on her face, dye in her hair,
An unborn child in her womb,
and her hopes in some forgotten tomb.
I touched God today.
He wore a baseball cap.
It was red, I think.
He had sad blue eyes and dingy blonde hair.
His wife had left, and he wondered…
Who cares?
I touched God today.
He smiled at me with a missing tooth.
He was nine years old and aloof.
In his jeans was a little hole, and
There were freckles on his nose.
I touched God today.
Many times, I’m sure.
At the school where I work,
On the street, in the department store.
Yes, I touched God today,
And tomorrow–
I’ll touch God some more.
“For as you have done it unto the least of these…you’ve done it unto me.”
By Darlene Campbell
(dedicated to Pastor LaVerne years ago)
WE BECOME WHAT OUR HEARTS FOCUS ON
The purpose of religion is to keep you focused on your sins and failures. Whereas the goal of the gospel is to keep you focused on Jesus. We live and have a relationship with God from the context of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It is from this reality that we can have boldness and unwavering confidence in God’s goodness toward us. Whatever you focus on becomes your identity.
In Matthew Chapter 14, Peter was only able to walk on water when he kept his focus on Jesus. The moment he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the storm, faith was replaced by fear that reminded him of his own mortality. Thus, he lost the ability to live in the supernatural. Truth is, storms in life will come and go, but we should never let them rob us of our focus.
Our source of faith, supernatural strength, and ability is determined by how we see Jesus today. “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness on the day of judgment: because AS HE IS, SO ARE WE in this world” (1 John 4:17).
Like Peter, we all fail in our lives at times. However, when we lose our focus, it is important to always remember that Jesus doesn’t ever lose His focus on us. Peter might have momentarily taken his eyes off Jesus, but Jesus never took His eyes off Peter. I would rather be a wet, water-walking believer than a dry boat-sitter who was too cowardly to leave the boat. Failures in life are part of what living is all about. Don’t condemn yourself for missing it in life because the One who gave His life and blood for you has never turned His back on you or taken His eyes off you. He can recover, restore, and strengthen you when you place your focus back on Him. “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” Matt. 6:22-23 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” Proverbs 23:7
Ed Elloitt
We Become What Our Hearts Focus On
The purpose of religion is to keep you focused on your sins and failures. Whereas the goal of the gospel is to keep you focused on Jesus. We live and have a relationship with God from the context of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It is from this reality that we can have boldness and unwavering confidence in God’s goodness toward us. Whatever you focus on becomes your identity.
In Matthew Chapter 14, Peter was only able to walk on water when he kept his focus on Jesus. The moment he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the storm, faith was replaced by fear that reminded him of his own mortality. Thus, he lost the ability to live in the supernatural. Truth is, storms in life will come and go, but we should never let them rob us of our focus. Our source of faith, supernatural strength, and ability is determined by how we see Jesus today. “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness on the day of judgment: because AS HE IS, SO ARE WE in this world” (1 John 4:17).
Like Peter, we all fail in our lives at times. However, when we lose our focus, it is important to always remember that Jesus doesn’t ever lose His focus on us. Peter might have momentarily taken his eyes off Jesus, but Jesus never took His eyes off Peter. I would rather be a wet, water-walking believer than a dry boat-sitter who was too cowardly to leave the boat. Failures in life are part of what living is all about. Don’t condemn yourself for missing it in life because the One who gave His life and blood for you has never turned His back on you or taken His eyes off you. He can recover, restore, and strengthen you when you place your focus back on Him. “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23)
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” Proverbs 23:7
When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” John 8:10–11
She never expected to be caught in the act of adultery, much less be dragged to the Teacher and flung at His feet. Those who did it smugly expected Jesus to condemn her. None of them were prepared to hear Him say, “Let those who have never sinned throw the first stones!” Their consciences pricked, they left, one by one. Alone with Jesus, she heard Him say to her, “Where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” Jesus knew how important it was for this woman to realize and say, “No one condemns me, Lord.” The only one who could condemn her did not, because He was going to the cross to be punished and condemned in her place. Something happens when you know that God does not condemn you today because of the cross. The woman received the power to “go and sin (which was her problem) no more.” Likewise, you will receive the power to overcome sin and even rise from your bed of sickness and be sick no more! Joseph Prince
Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”
Some years ago, a Christmas musical included Mary saying, “If the Lord has spoken, I must do as He commands. I will put my life into His hands. I will trust Him with my life.”
That was Mary’s response to the surprise announcement that she would be the mother of the Son of God. Whatever the consequences, she was able to say, “May Your word to me be fulfilled.”
Mary was ready to surrender her life to the Lord, even if it meant that she might be disgraced in the eyes of everyone who knew her. And because she trusted the Lord with her life, she became the mother of Jesus and could celebrate the Savior’s coming. Mary took God at His word, accepted God’s will for her life, and placed herself in God’s hands.
That’s what it takes to truly celebrate Christmas: to believe what is completely unbelievable to many people, to accept God’s will for our lives, and to place ourselves in God’s service, trusting that our lives are in His hands. Only then will we be able to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.
Ask the Holy Spirit today to help you trust God with your life and to turn the controls of your life over to Him. When you do, your life will never be the same.
Lord, our God, please give us faith to believe that the child we celebrate on Christmas is your Son, our Savior. Help us to acknowledge Him as Lord and to trust Him with our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Arthur J. Schoonveld
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