Monday, January 24, 2011

The Homecoming

  “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “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. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “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! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 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.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’22 “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. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 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

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,"
Ephesians 3:20

The Holy Spirit very recently showed me yet another amazing facet of how He loves us ... When this unfaithful wayward son returned home, by all rights he deserved nothing except the full wrath of his father. But the father sees his long lost son coming home from way off, drops everything, runs to meet him as fast as he can, and rolls out the red carpet, giving his son a homecoming he neither deserved or expected.
The son was blown away by the love of his father.

I was a prodigal. I left a home of spiritual privilege, forsook my Father, chased after other idols, loved other things ... squandered my inheritance. My Father has not only run to meet me, He does more than I could ever ask or hope for. He promises the same for each and every one of us .
The latest installment was an extremely personal and tender restoration in my life that has shaken me to my core, and I am blown away by waves of revelation of the knowledge of who my Father/Bridegroom/Lord/King is, and how He sees me and loves me.


"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty."

   

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