Luke 15:20-23 “And he arose and came to 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. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it , and let us eat and celebrate.”

The prodigal son was the third in a string of parables Jesus told to reveal another important aspect of God’s nature and character. In each something was lost and there was rejoicing when that which was lost was found. The son in the story abandoned his family, his responsibilities and took one third of all that was his father’s (an inheritance he had not yet actually earned) and ran off to live a selfish and self-absorbed lifestyle. Like all who have walked away from the plan God has for each of our lives, the prodigal took the wheel of his life and steered himself straight into disaster. When all was squandered and spent, when he found himself in dark times in a far country, his thoughts immediately turned to home. The prodigal, not believing he would be welcomed home, devised a plan in which he would beg to be hired as a servant. Boy was he surprised when his father, who had been watching and waiting (and probably praying daily) came running out to meet him. When we mess up, God is waiting, eyes squinting and hand over eyebrow…watching and waiting for us to come home so he can welcome us with joy and celebration!

Pray: Lord God, as I look back over my life, how many times I have turned my back on you and selfishly went off to do my “own thing”. In the end, things always turned out badly. Even though I knew I could come home, knew (or at least should have known) that you would be there waiting, sometimes I did nothing but sat in my misery. But you watched over me even then, waiting until I too would “come to my senses”. Thank you, Father, for always being there to welcome me home and not to hammer me for messing up. Help me to remember your great compassion always, in Jesus name I pray - Amen.”