The Father Of The Prodigal

Luke 15:20

... His father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son ...

This father is a picture of our Heavenly Father, and this is the only place in all of Scripture that shows Him running! And He is running toward the prodigal child who has wasted all the inheritance he's received. This child is stumbling down the road toward home, going over the speech he's prepared to tell his father, to ask him to come home as a servant. But the father cuts the speech short, calling for the servants to bring the new clothes, new shoes, and the "credit card" for the family business (the ring). He then has the fattened calf slaughtered and barbecued for the party to welcome him home.

This is God's attitude toward us when we admit that we don't deserve anything but death, and that Jesus took our death on the Cross. 

Then He causes us to be born into His own family as His prince or princess, causes us to be clothed in His own righteousness, and places His Holy Spirit into our spirit, making it alive and granting us the right to run His "Family Business," His Kingdom. And all the Heavenly Angels celebrate.

Jesus is God the Son Who was born into our human family in order to be the Lamb of God, the sacrifice that would not just cover, but wash away our sins. He fulfilled all of the laws of sacrifice: the first, personal one for salvation; and the corporate one for the Nation, to purchase all of the World, for judgement. 

That's how much God loves each one of us, to "run" to us with His arms wide open, nailed to that Cross! His love is amazing! He wants all of us to humbly realize our sinful state, recognize Who Jesus is and what He has accomplished for us in our place, and turn around our attitudes toward God's ways. He saves us individually, one by one, but will otherwise have to judge us eternally. I cannot comprehend how deep and wide and long and concentrated and flowing and filling and embracing His love is for me! And also for you!!

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!