“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, ESV)
Jesus, as we see a lot in the Gospels, taught in parables. Parables are short stories designed to illustrate a lesson or something important. Today’s passage comes from the Parable of the Two Lost Sons, or better known as the Prodigal Son parable. If you have a little bit of time, read Luke 15:11-24.
There are several lessons that we see taught in this parable by Jesus. The one that I want to focus on today is the picture this parable paints on the love of God, his and our Heavenly Father.
Jesus, when he told this parable, spoke about two sons who represented two different kinds of people. The younger son, on whom we will focus today’s devotion, represents the “sinners” (tax collectors). The older son represents the self-righteous (Pharisees).
I can relate to both of these brothers. For a long time, I lived as the older brother lived, but had a secret life like the younger. Now, I was more of a mild case of the younger brother, but I lived a lifestyle secretly in a manner that was “running” away from the Father. So, I can resonate with both of these young men. I am sure you can resonate with one of them yourself.
The younger son did many things wrong and immoral against his father. We can see in the text that he was a very rebellious young boy and “squandered all he had in reckless living.” By asking his father for his inheritance, the son was basically saying that the father meant absolutely nothing to him. He cared nothing for his father.
When he returned home after realizing all the wrong that he had done, I am sure he was not expecting what happened when he approached his father’s estate. “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. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”
This is the response we get when we come to Christ. You see, for the longest time, in order for me to approach God, I had to “clean myself up.” It is very selfish and prideful to think that I have this power.
No, we go to God in order for him to clean us up, whatever it may be in life. He is the one who, even when we are messy and dirty, embraces us by running after us, clothing us with his perfect robe of righteousness, and then throwing the best party in celebration of who we are in him.
May we keep this in mind as we go through life. Whether we are running, walking, limping, or plodding along, he has our back. He is always there ready to embrace! Let him!
—
Rosson Anderson
May 5, 2015
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.