I Still Love The Prodigal and His Father
I know I keep bringing up the story of the “Prodigal son.” Just keep in mind that the pattern we find in this story is: rebellion, ruin, repentance, reconciliation, restoration. This has been proven in all of our lives. I have covered this story dozens of times, and I apologize if it seems too repetitive, but some still struggle with their view of their Heavenly Father.
It is possible that they had a horrible relationship with their earthly dad, and for some reason they are trying to compare the two. If that is the case, quit.
Our natural dad is a faulty, frail, imperfect and limited human, and NOT your Heavenly Father—he simply shares the same title. There is no comparison. I tried to be a decent dad to my kids, but I was imperfect. I may have been too harsh or too critical, to them and if I was, I apologize, but even I have my faults and failings.
The story that Jesus told was an example of what I hope I demonstrated to my kids. What I am talking about is that the father must have given that son one of the greatest gifts a father can give: Love and Acceptance. That son had lived with his dad and grew to know his father’s character. During all those years growing up, he must he must have received a tremendous amount of love and support from his dad. He had to have, because otherwise, why would he return to a man who had always been angry and vengeful, who would beat him and make him pay back every cent he squandered? (see Luke 15)
The prodigal surely knew that if he returned he wouldn’t be upbraided or condemned for his sins. He probably thought, “I know my father loves me. He won’t throw my sin in my face. He will take me back.” When you have that kind of history with someone, you can always go back home. This applies to all of our relationships: spouses; friends; parent and child.
I love the way the father welcomed him with overwhelming love and forgiveness! That returning son had rehearsed all the way home what he was going to say, how he would apologize, repent and offering a heartfelt confession to his dad. But when he came face-to-face with his father, he didn’t even get a chance to confess. His father interrupted him by running up to him and wrapped his arms around him.
All of us have heard that story over and over. We have seen it from inside and out. But for me, I weep every time I read it. Oh, maybe you can’t relate because you have never offended your Heavenly Father or fell away from Him. But when you stand in that sons sandals and realize that your father has washed away your sins—and holds nothing against you—you will understand.
I should remind you that this is not a story for unbelievers. It is a family relationship we are talking about. An unbeliever has never yet experience the love of a Heavenly Father. This story is for those of you who belong in the family of Yehoveh and have fallen away. I am telling you, you can return home any time you are willing, like the son in the story, to repent and fall on your face and ask you Father to forgive you.
When that becomes a reality, you will experience your Father wrapping His loving arms around you . . . and it will blow your mind away. You see, once the son was broken and willing to go home, his sin wasn’t the issue to his father. The only issue on his mind was love. He wanted his boy to know he was accepted, even before he could utter a confession. That is the point God wants to make to all of us: His love is greater than all our sin. “God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repent and accept God’s will” (Romans 2:4).
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It is possible that they had a horrible relationship with their earthly dad, and for some reason they are trying to compare the two. If that is the case, quit.
Our natural dad is a faulty, frail, imperfect and limited human, and NOT your Heavenly Father—he simply shares the same title. There is no comparison. I tried to be a decent dad to my kids, but I was imperfect. I may have been too harsh or too critical, to them and if I was, I apologize, but even I have my faults and failings.
The story that Jesus told was an example of what I hope I demonstrated to my kids. What I am talking about is that the father must have given that son one of the greatest gifts a father can give: Love and Acceptance. That son had lived with his dad and grew to know his father’s character. During all those years growing up, he must he must have received a tremendous amount of love and support from his dad. He had to have, because otherwise, why would he return to a man who had always been angry and vengeful, who would beat him and make him pay back every cent he squandered? (see Luke 15)
The prodigal surely knew that if he returned he wouldn’t be upbraided or condemned for his sins. He probably thought, “I know my father loves me. He won’t throw my sin in my face. He will take me back.” When you have that kind of history with someone, you can always go back home. This applies to all of our relationships: spouses; friends; parent and child.
I love the way the father welcomed him with overwhelming love and forgiveness! That returning son had rehearsed all the way home what he was going to say, how he would apologize, repent and offering a heartfelt confession to his dad. But when he came face-to-face with his father, he didn’t even get a chance to confess. His father interrupted him by running up to him and wrapped his arms around him.
“When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him . . .” (Luke 15:20). The father was overcome with compassion, with excitement that his son was back, he covered him with kisses, saying, “I love you, son. Come home and be restored.”That father did all of this before his son could even complete his confession. The young man was able to blurt out the beginning of his speech. But his father didn’t wait for him to finish. To him, the young man’s sin had already been settled. The father’s only response was to issue an order to his servants: “Put a robe on my son and rings on his fingers. Prepare a feast, because we are going to celebrate. Everyone rejoice, for my son is home!”
All of us have heard that story over and over. We have seen it from inside and out. But for me, I weep every time I read it. Oh, maybe you can’t relate because you have never offended your Heavenly Father or fell away from Him. But when you stand in that sons sandals and realize that your father has washed away your sins—and holds nothing against you—you will understand.
I should remind you that this is not a story for unbelievers. It is a family relationship we are talking about. An unbeliever has never yet experience the love of a Heavenly Father. This story is for those of you who belong in the family of Yehoveh and have fallen away. I am telling you, you can return home any time you are willing, like the son in the story, to repent and fall on your face and ask you Father to forgive you.
When that becomes a reality, you will experience your Father wrapping His loving arms around you . . . and it will blow your mind away. You see, once the son was broken and willing to go home, his sin wasn’t the issue to his father. The only issue on his mind was love. He wanted his boy to know he was accepted, even before he could utter a confession. That is the point God wants to make to all of us: His love is greater than all our sin. “God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repent and accept God’s will” (Romans 2:4).
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