Tag: Heavenly Father

Heaven Celebrates Every Returning Son

Luke 15:20
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to Him” is the opening verse in the passage about the prodigal son. Luke wanted us to know that Jesus was not speaking to His disciples. Jesus’ audience was exactly who He wanted to reach with His message about the love of the Father. Jesus used this parable to define the breadth, width and depth of the love of Our Heavenly Father for all people – no matter how much their lives separates them from being a disciple of Jesus Christ.

When the prodigal son returned in shame, he was a filthy and stinky. He was a broken mess of a man, completely defeated. His father saw no filth. His father smelled nothing but the fragrance of the son that he so longed to see return to him. The father did not scorn the son. He celebrated his return and placed him in good standing once again.

Jesus went into great detail to establish that Our Father in heaven will allow us to go as far away from Him as we choose. But it will be our choice, not His. He will allow us to choose the entitlements of the world over the entitlements of His kingdom. But it will be our choice, not His. But no matter what choices we make, He will not stop loving us. He will not stop longing for us to return to Him no matter where we have gone in our travels away. And when we do return, all of the heavens will celebrate our return.

Let us run to the One who waits for us with open arms. Let us run confidently knowing that His love for us never changes. Let us repent of our old ways so that we may receive the abundant love that covers us completely. Let us share His perfect love and forgiveness with the world around us.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your loving kindness, Your mercy and Your grace. We rejoice in knowing that Your love for us is so great that You see us only in the image of Your Son, Jesus, whose blood covers the stench of our sinful pasts. Father, forgive us for the times that we have chosen the entitlements of the world over Your precious gifts. We humble ourselves before You and ask that we may be Your servants for all eternity. We pray our new lives in Christ will be an encouragement to others to join in Your heavenly celebration. We ask all these things in the name of the One who washes us clean, Jesus Christ.

Establishing a Covenant with Jesus

Psalm 40:8
I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.

When David spoke of his desire to follow God’s will for his life, he was patterning himself after Jesus. Jesus did nothing without giving full consideration to the will of the Father. Both Jesus’ and David’s hearts were set on pleasing the Father. Each complied cheerfully.

If we start a new exercise regimen because we want the quick body changes “guaranteed” in the rave reviews, we may find ourselves struggling to maintain the new regimen for any extended period of time. On the other hand, if we start the new exercise program because we have a passion for a happier, extended life to enjoy with our loved ones, we are more likely to get into the new regimen eagerly and consistently because of the higher purpose that drives our success.

When we seek to be faithful in following all of the commandments with the single purpose of avoiding sin, we are certain to struggle because our purpose is not high enough. We must find our passion in the higher purpose of establishing our covenant with Jesus not with the law.

Let us seek to know Jesus so intimately that we can enjoy His peace, His beauty, His mercy, His loving kindness and most of all share in His delight in pleasing His Father in heaven. Let us learn to count it as joy to give up the things of the world for the glory of Our Heavenly Father.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for loving us so much that You gave us Your Son to come down from heaven to fulfill the law. We bless the name of Jesus for His perfect obedience in doing Your will. We ask that the Holy Spirit will help us to set our hearts upon Jesus instead of upon the law. Oh Lord, we pray that we may take up our crosses daily with the same delight and pleasure that Jesus did when He fulfilled Your will for His life. We ask all these things in the name of the One who is faithful and true, Jesus Christ.