Dear God,
We come humbly before you at the start of another day and another week. We believe you are there and are listening to us. Please help us come to you in faith - trusting that you love us, care about us, and know all about us.
We love you, Jesus! We ask that you help us to love you and love others well. Please guide and direct our thoughts as we pray and as we meditate on your Holy Word.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen!
Luke 15:17-20
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“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.
The Parable of the Prodigal (Lost) Son seems to be the first parable many people recall when they think of what the grace of God is like. The father had every reason to either completely reject his son's request for employment or at least to be somewhat 'cool' upon the son's return. But instead of either of those responses, he goes overboard in demonstrating to his son that all has been forgiven and that he has been reinstated as a beloved son. What grace!
Although this is not explicitly stated in the telling of the parable in Luke, I have a vision of the father rehearsing ahead of time exactly what he would say and do the day he first sees his son returning in the distance. It's as if he knew his son would return and he wanted to make sure he was prepared for that day. It reminds me of the scripture that says there are many rooms in our Father's mansion and that Jesus has gone ahead to prepare a place for us.
Think about the Safety and Security the son must have felt when he saw his father running out to meet him and as he felt his father's arms around him and his kiss. Although this is a parable and not a historical account, I am confident that the son would have been overwhelmed and broke down in tears as he experienced a sense of safety and security he didn't expect and certainly did not deserve.
We have this same grace, only in our case it is not just a parable; the grace is real! Every day we have the opportunity to live in the safety and security that only God gives. May you experience God's abundant and undeserved grace today - for YOU!
Mark