His ‘shame-filled-son’ “got up, and started towards his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20
Heavenly Father, on this August Tuesday morning, 5 words capture how you relate to us every single day—”saw, compassion, ran, embraced, kissed.” You see us as we truly are—whether we’re wallowing in shame, worshipping you in Spirit and in truth, worried “out the wazoo,” or walking with a friend in crisis … you see us and you’re not holding a scorecard. Hallelujah, and thank you.
You always feel compassion for us, for we need your grace on our best days, not just our worse ones. And you always run towards us—sometimes to rescue us, always to fellowship with us, forever as a welcoming Father, never as an irritated dad. As your children, you embrace us tightly, kindly, gladly… and you will never let go of us. You “kiss” us—that is, you shower us with affection. How? Through your Word… by your Spirit’s testimony in our hearts… by the presence and care of loving friends… Abba, you are as creative as you are loving and faithful. Hallelujah, and thank you.
As the summer winds down, some of us, like the younger brother, can’t see beyond our shame and fear. Some of us, like the older brother, are smug, angry, and can’t see how disconnected from you we’ve become. Some of us are more preoccupied with a November election than the second coming of Jesus. Some of us are so sad we have no tears left. Some of us are “dangerously okay,” and now relate to you as an important part of life—not as the source and meaning of life. Abba, whatever place we are in, rescue, redeem, and bring us home. So Very Amen.