'Father-style' (1)

This is a summary of the 'Prodigal Son' Bible story (read it in Luke 15:11-32): a son gets fed up with home life, demands his inheritance, leaves home, spends it very unwisely then, humbled, heads home to dad... only for his dad to forgive everything and restore him to the family again.

In sermons, we are often portrayed as the son, the father being like God. That's all good, but what if God wants us to be the father too? When the father hitches up his robe and starts running, it's not just because he's excited to see his son. The elders of the village were planning to shame his son in a ceremony in front of the whole village, which would mean he'd be an outcast forever. His father got there first and forgave him. The father ran because he wanted to get to his son with love and grace before the villagers got there with the law and accompanying punishment. Which is exactly what God did for us, in sending Jesus.

So here's the question: Are we being 'dads' to those around us? Is there someone we know on their way home, who we can meet halfway, to love them before they can be judged by others in the family or community? How can we be 'father' to the returning sons and daughters?



So what now? Does someone you know need love and grace when they're expecting judgement and shame. Ask God to show you his 'Father-style' for that person.





— SCRIPTURE —

'He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.' Luke 15:20 NLT
— SOULFOOD —

Josh 19:24-21:45, John 16:12-18, Ps 2, Pro 28:25-28