In Luke Chapter 15 Jesus tells us a parable which many call “the parable of the prodigal son” or “the parable of the lost son”. It is a story of failure, repentance and the unconditional love of a father for his children.
In this story the son asks his father for his share of the estate, when he received it he moved to a distant country. Unfortunately the son had misused and foolishly lost his money. A famine struck and he had nothing. He was so desperate to eat he even wanted to eat the food that pigs eat. After some time he thought that if he could become a worker for his Father then he could get some food. He had already decided what he was going to say to his Father, “I have sinned against you, I’m not worthy to be your son, make me a hired worker.” So he went to his Father's house (Keep in mind that the Father had no reason to accept his son, his son had disrespected him and put his family to shame) and before the son even got close to his father's house, the Father had compassion and ran to him, (this is significant because a man in this context would not run, it would be shameful for him to run) hugged him and kissed him. The Father didn’t care about what his son did, he was simply joyful that his son that was lost came home. I’ll let Jesus explain the father’s response,
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.” (Luke 15:21-24)
Before the son could even finish his sentence, the Father begins to celebrate. The father doesn’t see him for his sin and doesn’t care about what his son did to him, all he saw was his beloved son. A lost son that once was lost but was now found. The father loved his son unconditionally. The father’s love was not dependent on the sons ability, but he simply loved the son because that’s his son. His beloved son. He didn’t see a dirty sinner, his son who hurt him, he just saw his son. What a beautiful story of unconditional love.
Now let me tell you something. That son who lived foolishly, who disrespected his father and damaged his family name. That son, is you (or daughter). That father who ran to his son (keep in mind it was shameful for a man to run), who had compassion on his son, the father who loved his son regardless of what the son did to him. That Father is God. Our heavenly Father.
God our Father. He loves us unconditionally. We once were lost sons but we are now found. He loved us even in our worst moment. And he ran to us, had compassion on us. He celebrated when he found us. This parable describes God’s love for mankind perfectly. As Paul says,
“God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
He loves us. He loves you. And there are still some people that are lost sons. Not everyone knows it, but God is waiting. He wants all people to come to himself. Those that don’t know him and are still living in foolish ways, he has compassion on them. We need to see this in all people. God went so far as to pay the ultimate sacrifice for you.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” John 3:16
Jesus talks about God the Father, he describes him as your heavenly Father who cares for you. He says in Matthew 7:11,
“ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.”
Please understand this. You are his beloved son (or daughter), he is well pleased with you. No longer do you have to earn his love because he loves you. He doesn’t see you for your sin he sees his child. And when you came to him, he celebrate simply because his son he loved, has come home. That child is you, he loves you. He so loves you.
Now because we know his love we live for him. We don’t live as worthless servants (we deserve that but God does otherwise) doing good trying to earn his love, we are his beloved children who receive his love and all we do is in gratefulness to his amazing love.
“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
Amazing Grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.
He rejoices over you. He loves you. He says to you “I have loved you with an everlasting love (Jer. 31:3) and I will continue to love you. My son my daughter I’m calling you, I forgive you, you are my beloved.” God bless you.
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