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
The parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15 is one of the most dramatic pictures of God’s love in all the Scripture.
And today’s verse is one of my favorites. What a picture of God Almighty! What a picture of God the Father! I like the way Phillips translates the last phrase of this verse. It says, “His father’s heart went out to him while he was yet a long way off.”
This is not a father who can’t wait to punish his sinful son. This is not a father who has written that boy off as wasted and worthless. This is a loving, caring father who cannot wait to embrace his son and to welcome him home! That’s why, when the father sees his son off in the distance, he leaves the house and runs down the road to meet him and to embrace him and bring him in.
What I hope you see here is a picture of the Father’s love for you. God’s love is an aggressive love…a love that’s eager and excessive. His love is approachable. And His love is abundant.
The prodigal son’s father didn’t hold back his love from his child. And God will never withhold His love from you!
GOD IS A LOVING FATHER WHO CAN’T WAIT TO EMBRACE YOU AND WELCOME YOU HOME!
