Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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The Father’s Embrace: A Picture of Unconditional Love

Bible Reading: Luke 15: 17-32

Key verse: “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)
 
DEVOTION

Have you ever seen a father waiting for a son who has run away from the house?
I grew up in Calcutta (now Kolkata). Right outside our apartment lived a family of six in a single room. One day, tired of being beaten and abused, the only son in that home ran away. Those were days when communication was primitive. The father waited for his son for many days. And in his weakest moments, when facing despair and loneliness, he would bring up the story of his son and hope that he would return some day.
Whenever I read the story of the Lost Son from Luke 15, my thoughts go back to that home. Did the son ever think of returning home? How would the father welcome him? Where is he now?
The parable narrated by Jesus illustrates the warm embrace of a father who rejoices at the return of his son.
Much as we long for the father’s embrace, there is a step that we need to take before that – come to our senses or seek forgiveness. Verse 17 says: “When he came to his senses, he said…..” How long did it take for the young man to come to his senses? Was it when he ran out of money, or when he started feeding the pigs?
The father’s reaction on seeing his son is illustrated well in the parable: (i) the father saw him while he was a long way off, (ii) he was filled with compassion for him (iii) he ran to his son (iv) threw his arms around him, and (v) kissed him.
What a father! What a reaction! There were no conditions, no strings attached.
It is this loving embrace and unconditional love that we can all expect from our Heavenly Father when we come to our senses and return to Him. What a joy it is to have such a Father!

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank you for waiting patiently for us. It has taken a long time for us to come to our senses. Forgive us. We now long for your loving embrace. Amen

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A father’s embrace exudes joy, strength and confidence. How much more our Heavenly Father’s embrace.

Alex Abraham
Dubai Mar Thoma Parish, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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