God's Love

Luke 15:20. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” In the familiar parable of the lost son (or prodigal son), the father (God) allows his son (you and me) to exercise free will, and the son chooses to reject his father and goes on a wild living binge. Finally coming to his senses, he resolves to seek forgiveness from his father. He plans to tell his father that he is no longer worthy to be his son, and to ask for a job like the other hired hands. Upon returning to his father’s house, the son is amazed to see that his father is ecstatic, and the father promptly throws a party to celebrate his son’s return. It’s an utterly compelling message of God’s forgiveness and unconditional love.

Verse 20 touches my heart deeply. This is the God whom I want as my God. The one who knows I’ve just screwed up (again), and still loves me. The one who doesn’t even wait for a confession – he just wants me to come to him and he will run to me. The one who doesn’t look disapprovingly at my behavior, but throws his arms around me. He loves you in the same way.

Many years ago I turned back to God and experienced this love for the first time. Because I am a sinful man and tend to act independently of God, I find myself needing to turn back to him every day. And it’s not a bad deal to have the God of the universe run to me and throw his arms around me each day!