'Splagchnizomai'

We've probably heard the Prodigal Son story many times, in many different ways. Let's zoom to verse 20 and focus on just one word: 'Esplanchnisth'! No, it's not a type of pasta. It's Greek, from the verb 'splagchnizomai', which we can inadequately translate in English as 'to have compassion'. In the Greek, its meaning is a bit stronger than that. It's more along the lines of being so moved by something that we feel it deep in our stomach. The closest translation that we have is, possibly, 'gut-wrenched'. Let's read verse 20 again with that in mind: 'When he was still far away, his father saw him, and loved him so much that it felt like someone had grabbed a handful of his intestines, and aimed a punch at his belly...' Yes, that's the Word For You Today translation of Luke 15:20!

Fun fact. The only other times we see the 'splagchnizomai' used in the Bible - yes, the only other times that we see someone truly 'gut-wrenched' by their love for humanity - relate to Jesus. And it's followed by him doing something about it. Jesus felt our pain so deeply in his own gut that he let his blood be spilled to fix it. That is what it means to care. That's the heart of the Father, the love of God, carried to earth by the Son.



So what now? Why not ask Jesus to pour more 'splagchnizomai' into your life: to move your heart for what moves his heart.





— SCRIPTURE —

'His father ... filled with love ... ran to his son.' Luke 15:20 NLT
— SOULFOOD —

1 Chr 3:1-4:23, Mark 1:21-34, Ps 78:9-16, Pro 19:24-26