The guilt-ridden, shamed, foolishness-exhausted son “got up, and started towards his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him. He ran to him, embraced him, and kissed him.” Luke 15:20
Heavenly Father, hallelujah… we praise, bless, and adore you! If we are in doubt about what you think about your less-than-perfect children, this passage has the power to remove all doubts. Five verbs in this one verse summarize how you relate to each of your daughters and sons in this minute and every moment:
Saw. Felt. Ran. Embraced. Kissed.
You see us—whether we are currently a mess, melancholic, marvelous, or madder than we have ever been. No matter if we’re living foolishly like the runaway “younger brother,” or have entered the cold-hearted deep-freeze of the self-righteousness “elder brother” (Luke 15:25-32). Either way and everyplace in between, you feel compassion for us, not contempt. You meet us where we are and take us where your grace alone can take us.
And you always run towards us in the Gospel as a welcoming Father. You embrace us so tightly, so kindly, so gladly… and you will never let go of us. You “kiss” us—for we are now “in Christ,” your beloved Son. Wonder of wonders, you have made his “belovedness” ours.
Father, whatever our emotional condition is right now—whatever our spiritual temperature, mental state, or physical location you desire us, are pursuing us, and are committed to giving us grace upon grace (John 1:16).
Thank you. Thank you, 10,000 times thank you. Free us from under-believing the Gospel and semi-trusting you. Forgive us for arrogantly thinking we’re an exception to your outrageous, measureless, irrepressible grace. Let us hear the loud music of your kind welcome this very day. So Very Amen.