All We Ever Wanted
All We Ever Wanted
'A certain man had two sons. 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. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.' (Luke 15:11-13 NKJV) What's God like? Jesus came to our poor planet to answer this question. He did so in a variety of ways, but one of His favorite methods was sharing parables that illustrated the Father's heart for us. One of the most powerful is known as the parable of the prodigal son. It concerns a son who took his share of his father's fortune, squandered it all away, and hit rock bottom. He eventually came to his senses in this pitiful state: '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! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you . . . .''' (Luke 15:17-18 NKJV) This son perfectly portrays a heart enslaved by sin. He had been broken and was finally willing to go back and beg his father for forgiveness. But what did the father do? '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.' (Luke 15:20 NKJV) What's God like? Jesus tells us that He's like a father who has every reason to reject his fallen son, but forgives, receives, and kisses him instead. Rejoice over this truth! Our Father in heaven isn't waiting to scold us for our sin but is anxiously anticipating the moment when we come to our senses and realize that He is all we ever wanted to begin with. DIG - What does the parable of the prodigal son teach us about God? DISCOVER - In what ways can you relate to the prodigal son? DISPLAY - How will Jesus' portrayal of the Father change the way you live your life? |