A Fathers Love

18‘I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19“and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’ 20“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21“And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23‘And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24‘for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
Luke 15: 18 - 24 NKJV

One of my favorite passages of scripture is found in Luke chapter 15.  It is here that Jesus gives us his parable of the prodigal son.  A son who chose to take his fathers inheritance and take leave of his father and all he had ever known.  A son who, when he reached that foreign land, chose to spend his newly found wealth on all the pleasures of life.  However, as any liberal will certainly tell you, sooner or later you will eventually run out of other peoples money.  So it was with this wayward lad in Jesus' parable.  Eventually the kid comes to his senses and realizes the grass on the other side of the fence wasn't as green as he thought it was and decides to make tracks for home once again.  But there's a problem.  Whether he feels guilty for leaving home in such a way or he's just one step away from being homeless, the boy comes to the realization that perhaps he should have stayed at home.  Experience can be a wonderful teacher.  For his part, the father is neither angry nor resentful of his yaoung sons sudden wanderlust.  On the contrary, scripture tells us that even while the boy was still afar off, his father saw him, had compassion on him and ran to meet him.  A fathers love.  So glad is his father to see his lost son, that his father immediately orders his servants to prepare a great homecoming feast.  For his son was lost...but was once again found.  The reason that I find this one of my favorite parts of scripture is that it gives us a glimpse of OUR own Fathers love for us.

14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Romans 8: 14 - 17 NKJV

One thing that I am certain of is this, if there were ever a man who knew the true love of a Father it was Christ Jesus.  It's not that we've placed the bar way to high in our own comparison of what a father should be, far from it.  Because of His love for us, He sent His ONLY son to take that punishment which was meant for us {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  Our heavenly Father certainly would not have done this had He not loved His children.  To forsake His own that others might live {John 3: 16-17}.  What greater love...that a man would lay down his life for his friends {John 15:13}.  A Fathers love.  Over time, I have seen many parallels in the love of the father in the parable of that prodigal son and our own heavenly Father.  A love that seems to transcend whatever slights or grievances it may encounter.  A love that overcomes our own personal hurts and frustrations and instead...gives love.  We are told that our heavenly Father is love {1 John 4:8}.  Why are we so surprised, then, that He would choose to exhibit His love even when we feel we don't deserve it?  Jesus certainly knew the love of His own Father.  In the midst of His own grief, His prayer was for us {John 17: 20-21}.  As He suffered His cup on that cross, His prayer was for those around Him {Luke 23:34}.  The Fathers love manifested through His Son.

When I became a father in the spring of '81
There was no doubt that stubborn boy was just like my fathers son
And when I thought my patience had been tested to the end
I took my daddys secret and I passed it on to him.
~Love without end, Amen - George Straight~

~Scott~