A Father's Heart

Jesus tells the parable of the prodigal son. This story is a wonderful picture of God's love for us. In the story the son begs to leave his father's house. The father grants the sons wish giving him his portion of the inheritances. After living a wild life of sin and fleshly pleasure, the son finds himself out of money and begging for food. Once he reaches the bottom of the barrel, eating from the pig trough, he realizes that the servants in his father's house have it better. Walking toward the farm that he once called home, his father sees him in the distance and runs to him. He throws his arms around him and welcomes him back into the family. With loving arms outspread for us, our heavenly father runs toward us compelling us to join his family. In this way we, the gentiles, are adopted into his family. Forever grafted in as sons and daughters of the most high God. We are joint heirs with the Son. The one that is higher than any other. The one that is more beautiful than a field of wild flowers, stronger than the force of a hurricane, and as gentle as a dove. He is the one that gives our lives meaning and hope, not only for today, but also for the future. Our hope rests in Him. Our loving and eternal King welcomes us, he also bids us to gather others. The spirit of adoption is this. To love beyond all human reason, to give hope, and to welcome into our families as Christ has graciously welcomed us. Not only will the life of a child be changed but ours as well.