August 20, 2008

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

--Romans 8:38-39

Is there anything you can do to keep God from loving you? You can find the answer in today’s passage. But the parable of the prodigal son is one of the most dramatic pictures of God’s love in all the Scripture.

I love how Luke 15:20 says, “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.”

What a picture of God Almighty! What a picture of God the Father! I like the way Phillips translates the last phrase of that verse. It says, “His father’s heart went out to him while he was yet a long way off.” 

This is not a father who can’t wait to punish his sinful son. This is not a father who has written his boy off as wasted and worthless. This is a loving, caring father who cannot wait to embrace his son and to welcome him home! So the father leaves the house and runs down the road to meet his son and to embrace him and bring him in.

What I hope you see here is a picture of God the Father’s love for you. It’s an aggressive love… a love that’s eager and excessive. His love is approachable. And His love is abundant.

The prodigal son’s father didn’t hold back his emotions toward his child. And neither does God ever withhold His love from you! 

REJOICE IN GOD’S LOVE FOR YOU! THEN SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE TODAY.