5 Steps to DITCH Sin & Get CLOSER to God [Luke 15:17-32]

Bye baggage of sin, hello repentance!

Did You Know Repentance is a PROCESS?

Yes, it’s a journey from “Ugh” to “Uh-Oh” to OMG.

Repentance is more than saying I am sorry; it’s a total change of heart and direction.

The parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 gives us a perfect example of the 5 steps that we must take to unlock both forgiveness and restoration.

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5 Steps to DITCH Sin & Get CLOSER to God [Luke 15:17-32]

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#1 – Reflection

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“And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!” [Luke 15:17]

To reflect is to recognize the misery of the present condition.

It’s to stop and think of why and how you got to that wrong place doing the wrong thing.

Instead of focusing on the misery, reflection focuses on the outcomes that brought it about.

Focusing on the misery means you take a ‘feel sorry’ mindset, while a reflective attitude means you desire to change the situation.

Reflection is essentially the first step towards positive change. It allows you to understand your mistakes and paves the way for replacing them with better decisions.

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#2 – Mind Renewal

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 ^“I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee.” [Luke 15:18]

When reflection is done right, it initiates the process of positive thinking.

The prodigal son began to think of the right and positive things to say and do.

The most important thought he decided to focus on was going back to his Father’s house.

The prodigal son had the choice of going to his master to ask for a pay raise. Also, he would have gone to the residents to ask for help.

Similarly, in repentance, our focus should be to go back to the Father first before going back to church or Christian friends.

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#3 – Taking Action

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“And he arose, and came to his Father. But when he was yet a great way off, his Father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” [Luke 15:20]

The inward work of reflection and mind renewal is what produces the outward behavior change.

Right thinking becomes a fertile ground for making the right decision.

For example, the prodigal son chose to give his current way of life no notice and instead decided to focus on building a different future by going back to his Father’s love and covering.

That is how we are called as Christians to break our alliance and covenants with death and focus on building a new alliance with life found in Jesus Christ.

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#4 – Being Accountable

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 ^“And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.” [Luke 15:21]

Choosing to walk on the right path is not equal to the absence of challenges.

There will be consequences for our previous decision, and this is where taking responsibility comes in.

For instance, the prodigal son had zero expectations of being accepted as a son as a son again.

In verse 19, we see that he was ready to bear the burden of being treated as a hired servant.

The hired servant could be fired with a day’s notice, while the common slave was treated as a part of the family in certain ways.

His willingness to even take the position of a hired servant means he was willing not to be a member of the family if that was the price to pay for his wrongdoings.

He took the humblest position of confession, as the Bible tells us that with a humble and contrite heart, God will not despise or ignore a repentant heart [Psalm 51:17].

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#5 – Restoration

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“But the father said to his servants, bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet” [Luke 15:22]

In Luke 17:11–19, the leper who went back to give thanks was not only healed but also restored such that the body parts that had been consumed by leprosy grew back again.

In the same way, true repentance earns more than forgiveness as it also brings restoration [being reinstated to the original state before the fall].

The depth of our repentance determines the depth of the Father’s love and compassion.

For example, the prodigal son’s Father is a direct representation of how God responds to true repentance.

Just the Father saw the son from afar and ran to meet him; God saw our need for salvation while we were yet sinners and came to meet us on the cross of Jesus.

Also, just like the Father clothed the prodigal son with a robe and a ring, God had clothed us with a new garment in Jesus Christ called righteousness and a ring of authority called the Holy Spirit.

Fathers respond to true repentance with compassion and not with probation.

The prodigal son’s story reminds us that God’s love is always waiting for us.

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Have you ever struggled with taking action after realizing you need to change?

You’re not alone! Share your story in the comments for someone who might need to hear it.

Finding an accountability partner can be a powerful tool in your walk with God. Tag a friend who can support you on your journey!

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Share This Blog Post On:

Are you looking for a deeper understanding of your faith? I’m excited to let you know that I have written books that delve into scripture and offer insights to help you grow in your Christian walk. Learn more about my books by visiting this link.

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