I've heard this parable a hundred times and never thought about it this way. Thanks, Maury, for this important angle. When I came back to Him, I've always thought he was merely pleased. Now I know He was so much more than that. Not only pleased to have me back where He wants me, but pleased for me that I would have Him back in my life.
Great post! It is an awful feeling to be separated from a child. When I read the prodigal son, I also think of the father running to the son to shield him from judgement. Old law would have that rebellious son stoned to death (Deuteronomy 21:18-21). God still runs to us and covers us in grace from our sin and shame. Thank you again for this post.
Maury, your question, "What If God Isn't Waiting for an Explanation?" is the kind of grace that makes you pause and catch your breath.
It calls to mind Isaiah 65:24, where the Lord promises, "Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear." We often waste time rehearsing our speeches in the pig pen, thinking we have to plead our case to earn our way back, but the Father is already hiking up His robes to run the moment we turn toward home. This insight is so crucial because it shifts the focus from our inadequate repentance to His relentless pursuit.
All too often I try to justify, rationalize, or explain why I drifted, rather than leaning into His open arms, waiting patiently for me to return to Him.
The bottom line is that His embrace always outruns our explanation.
Amen, this captures the heart of grace so clearly.The Father is not standing at a distance waiting for a flawless confession but watching the road for the first sign of our return,While he was still a long way off his father saw him and was filled with compassion and ran and embraced him Luke15:20.Scripture reminds us that God’s mercy always moves first,We love because He first loved us 1John4:19.Before we can gather the right words He already knows our hearts and responds with compassion Psalm103:13:14.This truth frees us from striving to explain ourselves and invites us to simply come boldly to the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need Hebrews4:16.Truly His kindness leads us to repentance Romans2:4 and His embrace is always faster than our excuses.
Thanks for your insight as well, Curtis. I also compare it to cleaning your house before a cleaning crew comes in to clean it. God loves us as we are. We have to recognize our sin, confess it, and call to him. I love that image of the Isaiah verse. With my own kid, I've so many times cut them off in the middle of their confession and just held them. Thanks again.
I've heard this parable a hundred times and never thought about it this way. Thanks, Maury, for this important angle. When I came back to Him, I've always thought he was merely pleased. Now I know He was so much more than that. Not only pleased to have me back where He wants me, but pleased for me that I would have Him back in my life.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Dennis. He loves us all.
Great post! It is an awful feeling to be separated from a child. When I read the prodigal son, I also think of the father running to the son to shield him from judgement. Old law would have that rebellious son stoned to death (Deuteronomy 21:18-21). God still runs to us and covers us in grace from our sin and shame. Thank you again for this post.
Thanks, Ryan. I love the hug analogy and shielding from judgement. Thanks for reading!
Maury, your question, "What If God Isn't Waiting for an Explanation?" is the kind of grace that makes you pause and catch your breath.
It calls to mind Isaiah 65:24, where the Lord promises, "Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear." We often waste time rehearsing our speeches in the pig pen, thinking we have to plead our case to earn our way back, but the Father is already hiking up His robes to run the moment we turn toward home. This insight is so crucial because it shifts the focus from our inadequate repentance to His relentless pursuit.
All too often I try to justify, rationalize, or explain why I drifted, rather than leaning into His open arms, waiting patiently for me to return to Him.
The bottom line is that His embrace always outruns our explanation.
Well done and thx for the encouraging wisdom!
>Curtis
Amen, this captures the heart of grace so clearly.The Father is not standing at a distance waiting for a flawless confession but watching the road for the first sign of our return,While he was still a long way off his father saw him and was filled with compassion and ran and embraced him Luke15:20.Scripture reminds us that God’s mercy always moves first,We love because He first loved us 1John4:19.Before we can gather the right words He already knows our hearts and responds with compassion Psalm103:13:14.This truth frees us from striving to explain ourselves and invites us to simply come boldly to the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need Hebrews4:16.Truly His kindness leads us to repentance Romans2:4 and His embrace is always faster than our excuses.
Thank you, Raju.
Thanks for your insight as well, Curtis. I also compare it to cleaning your house before a cleaning crew comes in to clean it. God loves us as we are. We have to recognize our sin, confess it, and call to him. I love that image of the Isaiah verse. With my own kid, I've so many times cut them off in the middle of their confession and just held them. Thanks again.
I love the way you wrote about this story
Thank you so much, Alison.
Such a needed reminder. Thank you.
Thank you, John.
Amen for that!