The Father's Embrace
In the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15, God’s love for his children can be seen clearly.
The younger brother acts recklessly after running away from his father. Having been given his share of property, ‘he went to a country far away, where he wasted his money from reckless living’. Finally, after losing everything, he realised he could no longer live like this and that he had made a mistake – he had to go home and see if he could become a worker for his father. Going back, he was ashamed; the son knew he had done wrong and was nervous, unsure how his father would respond to his homecoming. As he was almost home, his father saw him in the distance and saw his regretful heart, ran towards him and embraced him. More than that, he forgave him and wanted to celebrate his return. The father called out, ‘for this son of mine was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost and now he is found’.
This parable is teaching us what it’s like in the kingdom of God. The prodigal son has run towards the world and away from God, he has sinned and felt unfulfilled and unloved. But the prodigal son ran back to his father, and just like God, the father welcomed him home with open arms, just as God does with us.
He welcomes us home with a warm, loving embrace. Not only that, he celebrates our return; God loves His children so much that despite our sin, he will welcome us home with arms wide open, calling out, ‘for this son of mine was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost and now he is found’.
God invites us home because He loves us. We are His children who He loves so much that He died a gruesome death on a Roman cross for each of us.
‘For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.' (John 3:16)
God gave up His only son to pay the penalty for our sins, but not only that, He loves us so much that He wants us to spend eternity with Him. He invites us, and when we come home to Him, He celebrates that His lost child has returned home!
We are loved by the Creator, the one who knit us together in our mother’s womb and knows us each by name. ‘Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.’ (Matthew 10:29-31)
He knows everything about you and cares for you more than you could imagine. If you think about it, how incredible is it that He created the whole universe and yet He still cares so much about us individually?
He loves us so much that He knows every minute detail including how many hairs are on our heads!
We are made in the image of God, the God whose very nature is love. He wants an intimate relationship with us, He wants us to love him back and to trust Him completely.
Just like the father from the prodigal son, He wants us to come home, He wants his lost children to run home to His open arms, His warm embrace, His incomparable love.
Jesus loves you. How many times have you been told that?
I think we use that phrase too lightly. But read it again, Jesus loves you. The King of Heaven, the God of love says that you are His child and He loves you, He loves you, He loves you. How much does He love you? To the point of giving up His own life for you!
In John 15, Jesus says: ‘My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ He demonstrated the greatest love – He lay down His life for us, His friends.
So, this Valentine's day, lets share our love with one another but let’s reflect on more than the romantic gestures of red roses, chocolates and candle lit meals and consider how Jesus shows us the greatest of love and how the Father waits lovingly for His children to come back to Him.
- Emma Sampson
The younger brother acts recklessly after running away from his father. Having been given his share of property, ‘he went to a country far away, where he wasted his money from reckless living’. Finally, after losing everything, he realised he could no longer live like this and that he had made a mistake – he had to go home and see if he could become a worker for his father. Going back, he was ashamed; the son knew he had done wrong and was nervous, unsure how his father would respond to his homecoming. As he was almost home, his father saw him in the distance and saw his regretful heart, ran towards him and embraced him. More than that, he forgave him and wanted to celebrate his return. The father called out, ‘for this son of mine was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost and now he is found’.
This parable is teaching us what it’s like in the kingdom of God. The prodigal son has run towards the world and away from God, he has sinned and felt unfulfilled and unloved. But the prodigal son ran back to his father, and just like God, the father welcomed him home with open arms, just as God does with us.
He welcomes us home with a warm, loving embrace. Not only that, he celebrates our return; God loves His children so much that despite our sin, he will welcome us home with arms wide open, calling out, ‘for this son of mine was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost and now he is found’.
God invites us home because He loves us. We are His children who He loves so much that He died a gruesome death on a Roman cross for each of us.
‘For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.' (John 3:16)
God gave up His only son to pay the penalty for our sins, but not only that, He loves us so much that He wants us to spend eternity with Him. He invites us, and when we come home to Him, He celebrates that His lost child has returned home!
We are loved by the Creator, the one who knit us together in our mother’s womb and knows us each by name. ‘Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.’ (Matthew 10:29-31)
He knows everything about you and cares for you more than you could imagine. If you think about it, how incredible is it that He created the whole universe and yet He still cares so much about us individually?
He loves us so much that He knows every minute detail including how many hairs are on our heads!
We are made in the image of God, the God whose very nature is love. He wants an intimate relationship with us, He wants us to love him back and to trust Him completely.
Just like the father from the prodigal son, He wants us to come home, He wants his lost children to run home to His open arms, His warm embrace, His incomparable love.
Jesus loves you. How many times have you been told that?
I think we use that phrase too lightly. But read it again, Jesus loves you. The King of Heaven, the God of love says that you are His child and He loves you, He loves you, He loves you. How much does He love you? To the point of giving up His own life for you!
In John 15, Jesus says: ‘My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ He demonstrated the greatest love – He lay down His life for us, His friends.
So, this Valentine's day, lets share our love with one another but let’s reflect on more than the romantic gestures of red roses, chocolates and candle lit meals and consider how Jesus shows us the greatest of love and how the Father waits lovingly for His children to come back to Him.
- Emma Sampson
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