The compassionate father Part 9
"While he(the son) was 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." Luke 15:20
WOW!!! Is this really how our heavenly Father feels about us? Does he really have unconditional love? The answer is yes and yes!!!
Here is a son that took his inheritance, blew it all, had not made any effort to contact his father and yet he is welcomed home. In fact he is received with open arms before he even makes it all the way home.
I think there are times when we will welcome the prodigal home if they show obvious remorse for their actions, if they prove they have changed completely, if they guarantee they will never hurt us again, if they repay us for all the hurt they have caused us. Thank goodness this is not the heart of the heavenly Father.
What is the definition of compassion? Compassion is a sense of shared suffering, most often combined with a desire to alleviate or reduce the suffering.
As family or friends of prodigals we need to have that sense of shared suffering. One of the challenges prodigals feel is that they are all alone and no one can understand their broken heart, no one will help them work their way through the process of healing, and that they will not be forgiven. As Christians we have the privilege of listening, loving and leading people back to fellowship with Christ and families.
It is very encouraging to me to now that my heavenly father is so compassionate towards his children. He never stops loving those who serve Him and even those who don't. He wants that close relationship for all His creation. If you are the prodigal, God loves you!!! His message is "Come home, you are welcome here."
WOW!!! Is this really how our heavenly Father feels about us? Does he really have unconditional love? The answer is yes and yes!!!
Here is a son that took his inheritance, blew it all, had not made any effort to contact his father and yet he is welcomed home. In fact he is received with open arms before he even makes it all the way home.
I think there are times when we will welcome the prodigal home if they show obvious remorse for their actions, if they prove they have changed completely, if they guarantee they will never hurt us again, if they repay us for all the hurt they have caused us. Thank goodness this is not the heart of the heavenly Father.
What is the definition of compassion? Compassion is a sense of shared suffering, most often combined with a desire to alleviate or reduce the suffering.
As family or friends of prodigals we need to have that sense of shared suffering. One of the challenges prodigals feel is that they are all alone and no one can understand their broken heart, no one will help them work their way through the process of healing, and that they will not be forgiven. As Christians we have the privilege of listening, loving and leading people back to fellowship with Christ and families.
It is very encouraging to me to now that my heavenly father is so compassionate towards his children. He never stops loving those who serve Him and even those who don't. He wants that close relationship for all His creation. If you are the prodigal, God loves you!!! His message is "Come home, you are welcome here."
posted by s.d.w. at 5:20 AM
1 Comments:
"One of the challenges prodigals feel is that they are all alone and no one can understand their broken heart, no one will help them work their way through the process of healing"...
Oh, how nice it would be for church folk to get this. If you can do nothing else, pray for us.
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