Yes, yet another Lord of the Rings parallel! But I’d suggest sticking around.
Since School of Supernatural Life started for us, we’ve been working through Finding Father. I will include quotes from a day in the book on the most descriptive thing I’ve ever read & heard about the Father Heart of God: the story of the Prodigal Son.
“So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced, kissed him.” (Luke 15:20)
He got up and came to his father… The son took the first step and headed in the direction of his heart’s desire: to come back to the father. He knew that coming back even if it was only as a servant to his Father would be far better than the pig pen he had been living in! “He put action behind his heart, trusting that what had been stirring there concerning the goodness of his father was true.”
His Father saw him and felt compassion for him…I imagine He was looking at the horizon, diligently scanning for the small figure of his son. At a moment in time, he looks and sees his son. “What rises up in His heart is not disgust or disappointment, but compassion, mercy, love and excitement as he begins to sprint toward the son!”
…and ran and embraced…“In those days dignified landowners did not run, they walked with dignity. It’s possible that the lack of running was due to the fact that they were essentially wearing dresses and flip flops, which made it challenging to maintain dignity while running in such a getup…the picture to take away is one of a father so overwhelmed with love and compassion that he picks up his skirts and runs full barrel toward the son with his sandals flailing behind him.” Then He stretched out his arms, surpassing his smell, and landed upon his neck.
…kissed him. “Jesus is giving us an illustration of a love that stops for nothing. Not stinking sin, not smelly shame, and not previous insults or woundings. The final segment of this verse says that the father kisses the son. Kissing was a sign of covenant, commitment, and belonging. The Father is saying clearly with His actions:
“Welcome home, son, you are mine and I receive you unconditionally.”
The Father didn’t stop there. He showed even more actions of love & kindness:
But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
All were saying each time: “You are my son. You are my son. You are my son.” Love is best felt, not just told. It is something the son experiences that makes his welcome such a huge impact. A life of living in His love is not just knowing He loves you, it involves experiencing His love for you. “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Ps. 34:8)
The next thing in this devotional, which is a part of each day in the book, is Reflection and Activation. I have experienced how impacting and so helpful hearing God’s Voice for myself is. One of the things it had me do was ask Him: “Daddy, what do you want me to know about how You see me even when I make mistakes.” All you have to do is listen. For those who are more analytical (aka left-brained), you can listen using the 4 Keys to Hearing God’s Voice:
- Quiet yourself down
- Fix your eyes on Jesus
- Tune to spontaneous thoughts
- Then write it down.
You’ll be amazed at what He tells you. Usually the thoughts that seem kinder than any of your own thoughts is God. He’s ALWAYS so kind!
