Father’s Embrace
Luke 15:11-24
11 Then He said: "A certain man had two sons.
12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood.
13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.
14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.
15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,
19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." '
20 "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.
23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;
24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.
This parable that Jesus told is often referred to as the story of the Prodigal Son. It tells of a young man who claims his inheritance and then leaves home and wastes it all on wild and unrestrained living. After feeding pigs as a means of survival, he comes to his senses and heads for home. This parable however is not just about a son who went his own way, lived in sin, and lost it all. It is also about the heart of the father - the Father that Jesus came to reveal (John 1:18).
After the son left, the father waited. He waited, and he watched for the son’s return. His eyes were constantly scanning the horizon for his son. When he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion on him. What arose in the father’s heart was not judgment, anger or condemnation, but rather the tenderness of compassion. Then this father did what no respectable Jewish man of the day would do - he ran (Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament). He ran and embraced his son, and kissed him, dirt and all.
Father God does not wait until we clean ourselves up and appear in the courts of heaven. Rather He runs to meet us and embraces us right where we are. He is the One who has been constantly watching and waiting for our return. He does not reprimand us or disown us, even when the leaving was our choice. Rather, He restores us to the place of sonship and pours out His extravagant love and affection on us.
Like the son in the parable, our focus is usually on our performance and our perceived lack of worth. We head towards home, but we find it hard to forget where we have been. Like the Prodigal we easily believe, “I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants” (Luke 15:19). But Father does not want us as a servant - He wants us as a son.
Father God gives us the right to choose where we live and how we live. The moment however that we turn towards heaven, Father sees, and He runs to meet us. Our small, hesitant steps are matched by the God of heaven, who will cross the entire universe to meet and embrace us. We may be dressed in the rags that reveal our past, but He hugs and kisses us right where we are and as we are. We may feel totally unworthy, but the One who holds us will clothe us as a son and celebrate our return (Luke 15:22-24,32).
Wherever you are at and regardless of where you have been, Father loves you and is full of compassion towards you. His heart is not to judge or condemn, but rather to embrace and celebrate. You may feel like you are a long way from where you need to be, but Father will meet you and walk you home.
Consider:
Do you feel like you are a long way from God? Does the stench of where you have been still cling to you? The heart of the Father is to welcome and receive. He wants to meet with you and walk you home.
God’s compassion and restoration are not dependent upon your efforts, or your promises to never fail Him again. Jesus speaks of a father that shows kindness and compassion. Your future is not determined by your past, nor is your acceptance dependent upon your performance.
It’s time to be merry! The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). It is not a natural kingdom that defines you by what you have done. It is a kingdom of love, where you are identified as a son, and celebrated by the Father.
