Daily Affirmations - Day 4 - The Father Himself Loves You - A Father Who Waits
- Alisa B.
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Day 4: A father who waits
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate (Luke 15:11-24).
O Lord Jesus, who but You could describe the love of the Father in an illustration that speaks deep into the heart of every estranged soul separated from his God, from her God?
Who but You, Son of Man, could understand our story, our wandering from the God who loves us— wooed by the deceitful lure of the world, the siren call to a distant country, the empty promises of joy and fulfillment?
Who but You, God-Made-Flesh could understand the inevitable shock of harsh reality— the dawning realization of having been duped; the sudden awareness of stench and waste— of putrid pods and pig-slop— the growing pain of gnawing soul-need; the tug of war between the consuming pit of shame and regret and the pull towards reason and restoration...
And who but You, Son of God, could know and understand the heart of a Father who waits, and keeps watch, and runs to a returning child who is still a long way off; who showers dirt with kisses and covers rags with the fragrance of compassion?
O God of mercy, God of grace, let Your light dawn in every distant country. Bring Your children home.
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