“But while he was still far off, his Father saw him and was filled with Compassion; and ran out to put his arms around him and kiss him.” ~ Jesus (Luke 15:20)

 

This is the most important verse from one of Jesus’ most important parables — The Parable of the Prodigal Son (see Luke 15:11-32).  In this tale, a devoutly selfish son takes his massive inheritance, leaves his father’s house, and travels abroad to squander those riches in a life of sin & debauchery.  And yet despite it all, when that son hits rock bottom and decides to come home, his father welcomes him with open arms – with no scoldings, no guilt-trips, no passive-aggressive shaming, and no uncomfortably “appropriate” punishments or fairly “just” consequences.  The father simply sees him on the horizon and – despite knowing full well exactly where the son went and the wicked things he was doing while away – runs to him and wraps his arms around him …

Most importantly of all – and this is the part that almost all the Christians I know miss completely – he runs to him and fully forgives him before the son even attempts to apologize; before he asks for redemption and without him asking even directly to atone for his wrongs.  The Forgiveness of the father in this story is given immediately, it is given unconditionally, and it is given absolutely – just like the Forgiveness that must be given by any God who is all-Loving; by any God who is in any way even remotely worth worshiping (see Matthew 5:48, Luke 6:36, Matthew 18:21-22 & 1 John 4:18).

 

Amen … Let it be so.

 

Filed under: My Favorite Verses by Scaughdt