Verse of the Day 6/22

Luke 15:20  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.  English Standard Version (ESV)

Our Pastor Bob spoke on this passage from Luke 15 last Sunday and spent some time focusing on how the father in the parable ran to meet the son.  It wasn't the "proper" thing to do in that society, but the father wasn't held back from doing what he wanted, what he needed to do.  The father in the story is a picture of God and His love.  He doesn't wait for us to get our lives cleaned up, everything in order before He will allow us to come to Him let alone run to us.

In the story the father doesn't receive a voicemail, email or text from the son telling him that he is coming home.  It is out of the blue, but the father was looking, waiting, hoping for and anticipating his eventual return.  The motive of the return was not the issue, it was the fact that he was returning.

It's a reminder for us that if we have strayed, we don't have to get everything straightened out with our lives, have our "house" in perfect order before returning.  He will meet us where we are, as we are, but he won't  leave us that way.  The service this past Sunday ended with the Philipps, Craig and Dean song "When God Ran" which paints an excellent picture of the character of the Father.

In yesterday's post we considered God's faithfulness and took a look at the old hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness.  Morning by morning new mercies are provided by God the Father.  A friend responded that God "winked" at him with the verse and the hymn as a reminder of God's faithfulness in his life, even through difficult times.  How often have you experienced that, God placing a verse or a song in your path that brings back a memory of an event or a person that are a reminder of His faithfulness.

Sometimes God will wink at us, letting us know  that He is there and reminding us of His faithfulness.  Other times He may run to us, meeting us where we are in the moment and at the point of our need to welcome us back home.  Either way, if you experience either of these in your life today, thank the Lord for His great faithfulness, mercy and love.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 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 15:17-24The Message (MSG)

^17-20 "That brought him to his senses. He said, 'All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death. I'm going back to my father. I'll say to him, Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.' He got right up and went home to his father.

^20-21 "When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: 'Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son ever again.'

^22-24 "But the father wasn't listening. He was calling to the servants, 'Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We're going to feast! We're going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!' And they began to have a wonderful time.