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“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.” – Luke 15:20.

This passage is from Luke’s account of the parable of the Prodigal Son.  Despite the failings of the son, the father forgave and welcomed him home with genuine compassion and love.  In the  beginning of the parable, Jesus explains that the youngest son is rebelling against his father.  He is seeking a world of self-indulgence and demands his inheritance then squanders his new-found wealth on things both sinful and of no value in God’s kingdom. Jesus was describing the gift of God’s forgiveness as a scandalous grace1  of compassionate mercy that is beyond our comprehension and knows no boundaries.

The father in the story clearly loved his son more than the land and the livestock.  I am convinced that the wise father had a clear understanding that his son was immature and enjoyed little confidence that his future would be established in good business and wise investment. The son cared not for the father but the glitter of self-indulgence.  St. Augustine refers to the self- indulgent spirit as “Inordinate love of idols of the heart.”  The young son did not realize the value of his father’s love.   In this story the father saw the best in his son and waited with patience and understanding.  It is a wonderful recognition that our God waits for us and sees the best in us.  
We are loved beyond our failings and sins.

I wish I could say that my faith journey has always been a close walk with Christ without detours, 
mistakes, and less-than-good judgement calls, but like most I look back and recognize that I was given the “free will” to choose.  We are all granted choices in life often learning and growing 
through our mistakes as we ask forgiveness and return home to the Father.  Our homecoming is always a prayer away.

The parable reveals important truths about the love of our Father.  God loves us despite our sinful nature, and we are children of a loving God who practices grace and forgiveness beyond our earthly comprehension.  Second, He is always waiting for us to come home.  Third, we are gifted a pathway of forgiveness, salvation, and redemption through Jesus.

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.   Romans 8:31-39.

This is a favorite passage that affirms God’s love for each of us.  He is always with us, and nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus.  Through the words of the parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus is asking us a to understand and accept the Father’s love and appreciate that He waits 
for us with compassion and forgiveness.

Prayer:   Father, we give thanks for Your boundless grace and a pathway to redemption.  Grant us the strength to live in a spirit of prayer ever searching for Your guidance and wisdom.  Help us to identify our idols and trade them for a loving heart.  We make this prayer in the name of
ord Jesus. Amen.

1 Term coined by Preston Sprinkle. Scandalous Grace: A Book for Tired Christians Seeking Rest. By Preston Sprinkle. Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2021.

The Wesleyan Bridge is written by K.B. Kelly with the Reverend Valerie Mireb and Pastor Hank Brooks as Theological Editors with Debbie Kelly as Text and Content Editor.