Good Monday morning...

… and the message of the prodigal son story in the Bible has so deeply captured my attention and filled me with hope when it comes to tragic family situations, that I find myself reflecting often on each of the characters.  The story is told by Jesus in the context of a mixed audience, there were tax collectors and sinners in one group, and Pharisees and teachers of the law looking down on the Teacher’s choice of company, in the other.  But it’s the content of the story that has marked my life as a hopeful father.

The sin of the younger son is terrible, wretched, unbelievable really.  So selfish and reckless.  Just asking for inheritance seems so disrespectful.  But he did, and off he went to spend his unearned fortune on wild living.  Sins of family members can cause some deep rifts, especially among siblings.  It is notable to me that in the years of sharing this story with others, in a variety of contexts, more people than I expected side with the older brother.  “He made his bed, now he can lie in it.”  Hmmm.

The repentance of the younger son is suspicious.  I mean, sure, “he came to his senses” and crafted a plan to go home as a servant, not a son.  But in the context of Jesus’ story, this is the main point.  Just making that shift in thought, that turning toward home, was all that made for “more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.”  Repentance is the main point of the teaching, and it comes at the lowest time of the selfish son’s experience.  Some find it easy to criticize the young man, like when those who honestly report, “I only pray when I’m in trouble.”

For me, it is the reaction of the father that has blown my mind.  The “joy in heaven” illustrated in the betrayed father seeing his son returning home… and taking off running to greet him, embracing him, restoring him to his place in the family, celebrating his return, literally throwing a BBQ in honor of the occasion.  Benny Hester’s song, When God Ran, so beautifully speaks of the reunion.  The lines, “He took me in his arms, held my head to his chest, said my son’s come home again; lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes, with forgiveness in his voice, he said, ‘son, do you know I still love you.’”  Wow!

That is the Father that Jesus wants us to know.  The One who still loves us.  As a father myself, this is the most inspirational picture in all the Scriptures that I aspire to.  I want my children to know I still love them.  A “no matter what” love that receives them home and restores the relationship that God intended parents and their children to have.  Family is forever.

For His glory,

Pastor Mike