Who is God like? V. 12- He listens to the rude requests of his children. God gives people freedom to go against him and wants them to personally choose to love and acknowledge him. This may look dangerous but choosing who to love and who to receive love from and the freedom to reject them is a dangerous decision. Without this freedom there is no love. Vv. 20-24- He runs out to meet his second son who was beaten by a group of people. He brings him back into the family and restores his status as his son. This is the same great love that God has and shows for all of us. This is an unconditional love poured out to someone that can never repay it. This is a warm love that will embarrass the teachers of the law who were cynically looking at him. It is because of this love that we are alive and that we live. This love is the driving force that makes us people who can love others. What lesson is God teaching me? Vv. 13-16- The love of the world is conditional. Only when you can spend money is the world friendly to you and tries to be good to you but when the money is gone, not even the pigsty will welcome us. Which do you think is real, the love of the world that comes to us only when we have money, or the love of God that comes to us when we have nothing? Vv. 17-19- Only when the son had lost everything did he realize that his father’s house was the most safe and pleasant. He knew how big a sinner he was to leave his father and knew that the only way to live was to return to his father. The hardships you are facing today is a signpost leading you back to the house of the father; it is the cry of the rooster to wake you and grab your attention.
Help me to receive the unfathomable love you have for me today.
