The Good Father
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
Luke:15:20
For years a struggle with seeing God as the good father He is. When ever I did some thing that may have disappointed Him, I felt that I had to find a way to make it right and win back His love. I can remember having a conversation with a trusted friend and she told me to repent and keep it moving. What she said was so simple yet profound, but of course it was easier said than done. I eventually got over what ever I was facing in that moment, but it took a few years to actually walk in the understanding of what she said.
In Luke chapter 15, the author shares a familiar parable about the prodigal son. One day the (younger) son approached his father and he asked for his portion of his father's inheritance. Not many days after, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living (Luke 15:13). Have you ever taken anything that God has blessed you to have and recklessly misused or squandered it? How did you feel after the matter? In instances such as this, the enemy will plant seeds of guilt. Instead of running back to the Father, we hide in shame (Reference: Genesis 3:8).
Eventually the son came to him self (Luke 15:17) and made the decision to go back to his father's house where he knew that he would be taken care of. Now of course, this probably was not an easy decision because he knew that he messed up, but it was a decision he knew he needed to make. It literally was a life or death situations. Before his journey (I can image along the way as well), he rehearsed what he was going say when he got back home to his father. He knew that he had sinned against his father and wanted to make it right again. His experience taught him a valuable life lesson and reminded him of the security and love that was found in his father's care. As he got closer, one of the most beautiful things happened. His father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him (Luke 15:20). The son humbled himself and repented. The father's response was a celebration (Luke 15:22-24). He said, "for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found."
For everyone has sinned and l fallen short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins (Romans 3:23-24 NLT). The overwhelming reckless love of God captured me and it reminds me daily of who I am in Him. When I don't get it right, He is there to put me back on track. When my perspective is out of kilter, He has a way of reminding me who He is. When I have sinned, He has given me the gift of repentance. When I turned back to Him, he is there to receive me with open arms and to celebrate me.
I encourage you to let the Holy Spirit search your heart and reveal the agenda and desires that are not agreeable with His will for your life. Often there is the temptation to do things that will please the flesh and we find ourselves unfulfilled and trying to quench a thirst that can't by satisfied. Further more, we also separate ourselves from God and fall in to the snares of sin. In the security of God's will we find abundant Love, joy, peace, and freedom all according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. This is His pleasing and perfect will for us.
Run back to the Father, He is waiting.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, you are my strength and my power and I look to you for guidance. Lord God, Search me and know my heart. Try me and know my anxious thoughts. Pont out anything in me that offends you and cause me to sin against you. Lead me along the path of everlasting life. In Jesus Name, Amen
