Luke 15:11-32

Many of us know this story. The son receives his inheritance, leaves home, lives a lavish life for a few minutes and then loses it all and ends up working with pigs to earn enough to survive.  However, that is in no way the part of the story that matters most. The best part, the part God really wants us to hear is how he is greeted upon his return. 

He is greeted with the biggest celebration. He draped a robe over his shoulders, a ring on his finger, and threw a grand feast with the finest wine & beef. There was no passive aggressive comments for weeks or months to come, no hostility, no cold shoulder and certainly no disowning. Truly all of those things above, he probably deserved. He more or less wished his father dead. It really doesn't get much worse than that. And still, the moment his father had him in his sights, the celebration begin. Why? Because all that mattered was his son was home. Our Father is inviting us into this same kind of response and celebration today. He is always happy when he come home to Him. Wherever for the first time or the fifteenth time, no matter what we have done, the heavens roar in celebration of another son or daughter of commits their life to Jesus.

And, just as our Father is being generous with His forgiveness and resources to us today, He calls us to be an extension of His hand and be a blessing to others too. These things are not ours, and His forgiveness is not only for the deserved and perfect. May we take note of the free love and generosity this father lavishes on his prodigal son and practice being this kind of a giver in our own lives today.