May 16 - Luke 15:18

4 days

Till Deeper Life Conference

6:30pm --- Sun, May 20 – Tues, May 22

I will get up and go to my father,

and I will say to him,

"Father, I have sinned against heaven

and before you."

Luke 15:18

The Prodigal Son is arguably the most important of all the parables.

Why?

Because it, first, gives us a powerful glimpse of God.

Jesus tells us that God has a heart. Indeed, it’s a passionate heart, the heart of a father, and a true father yearns for his children. He rejoices when they rejoice. He weeps when they weep. He grieves when they’re far away.

As much as it pains this Father, though, God allows us to make our own mistakes and deal with our own consequences. I’m part of a generation that’s known as the “helicopter parents.” Many of us hover over our kids. We try to help them kick open doors. We try to keep them from harm. And it’s no longer through wisdom and advice, it’s through intervention.

God, however, lets us prodigals wander off. The call is there. Wisdom permeates his Word. He also sends his Spirit – even interventionally. But he also allows us to make our own mistakes.

But there’s one more key. He waits eagerly for us to come to our senses and turn our hearts back toward home. Indeed, I love how the dignified, old man in the story, dropped all sense of decorum and RAN to greet his son. Indeed, God passionately pursues!

That’s basically enough for today! But once we learn who God is, it’s good to ask who we are too. Are we the prodigal who needs to turn back toward home, confessing our sins? Or are we more like the older brother who’s lived so close to the old man that we’ve started taking his generosity for granted? The answer is probably … “yes to both.”

In the ways that you’re straying, turn back! In the ways that you’re taking your faith for granted, open up! Our generous Father has more in store than you or I are experiencing yet!!!

In Christ’s Love,

a kid who wants more

(in a holy – not greedy – way)