Verse of the Day 4/15

Through the Bible - 1 Samuel 18-19, Luke 16:1-13

 

Good morning,

For today's verse we'll return to Luke 15 and the parable of the prodigal son.

As we've seen over the last few days, God has a heart for His children wherever they are.  The father in this parable reveals the heart of God.

 

Luke 15:20 So he got up and went to his father.

 

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.   NIV

 

or from the NLT

Luke 15:20 "So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

The father was looking for him, you get the picture of him glancing off to the distance at times every day hoping to see his familiar walk.  A father will recognize his son a long way off.

 

John Piper writes,  "When he saw him far off, "he felt compassion for him." There is something in Almighty God like this. Some of you fathers know what it is like to have a child run away from home. Then there's the phone call, and a rendezvous, and the flood of emotion and longing and love when you see him walking toward you. That's the way it is with God when you head home. "

 

This heart for your children doesn't have to be brought about by prodigal living.  Speaking personally, it's hard to have a son somewhere across the country at school, especially in times of trial or trouble.  You long to be there.

 

A father desires communication with his son.  Separation does'nt have to be over a distance.  There can be silence in the home wjch can come from hard feelings, from hardened  hearts, or in the case of my son Jeff after his accident.  The silence of a coma and a brain injury.

One of the great joys and moments of hope and praise came two years after Jeff's accident when he spoke his first words after those two long years of silence.  There had been no true communication for two years.  What a joy it is for that communication to be restored to hear your son say "dad" and know that he knows how much you love him.

 

If there has been separation or lack of communication for whatever reason between you and a child or you and your spouse.  Don't worry about what the world around you will think, don't be ashamed to run to them, to seek restoration.

 

Have you "found yourself" away from home, away from God.  Turn around and head back, He's waiting for you.

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
More tools available at: http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Luke 15:11-16:1

 

The Parable of the Lost Son

 

11 Then He said: "A certain man had two sons.  12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood.  13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.  14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.  15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.  16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

 

17 "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,  19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."'

 

20 "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.  21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

 

22 "But the father said to his servants,'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.  23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;  24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.

 

25 "Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.  26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.  27 And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.'

 

28 "But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.  29 So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.  30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.'

 

31 "And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.  32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.'"

 

NKJV