Our Heavenly Father Comes Running ~Michael Heil Luke 15:20-21 So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Have you ever noticed how Jesus shared God’s truth in the “user friendly” terms? Instead of words and phrases fit only for the halls of academia, Jesus used parables of common everyday events to reveal the heart of God. In the parable known as The Prodigal Son, we see how our Father - who is God, loves us deeply. Through the light of Jesus’ words we see our condition. Like the prodigal son, we want what we want when we want it. On our own, we take the precious gifts and blessings we have been given and squander them on that which cannot satisfy. We live for our gratification, maybe through partying or possessions or popularity. We chase after dreams that turn into nightmares. And, when we come to realize how stupid and self-centered we have been, we face the same decision of the prodigal son . . . to let shame consume us and run into deeper pit, or acknowledge our unworthiness and come back to Father. In Luke 15:20, 21 we see the reaction of the prodigal son and we also see the reaction of the father. The son humbled himself and admitted to his father he was “no longer worthy to be called” his son. But, the father would have none of it. He ran to his son when he saw him a long way off. God, never, ever gives up on us! Like the father in the parable, our heavenly Father is always watching, always waiting for the slightest step back to Him. And, once we come back, like the father in the parable, God will not let us bear our shame. When you keep reading Luke 15, you will notice the Father immediately put a robe on his son, immediately put a ring on his finger. As soon as you and I gave up our life and admitted our foolishness, admitted our need of Christ, we were given “the robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10) and “seal of the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13; Esther 8:8). On that blessed day you received Jesus as Lord, the Father claimed you as His very own; you were placed became in Christ, heir to all the Father owns.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 01:06:07 +0000
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