Luke 15:20 (NASB95) “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
One of my favorite parables of Jesus is the parable of the prodigal son. The prodigal came to his senses one day in the pig pen and realized he had been deceived, he didn’t have to live like a pig. He could go home. He didn’t feel worthy to be a son any more, he was content to just be a slave. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but he knew anything was better than where he was. But the father had different plans.
The father saw his son when he was a long way off. That means he was looking and expecting his long lost son to come home. And when he saw him, he ran to him, embraced and received him. The son was probably expecting a lecture, but he got sonship.
The older brother was expecting to be rewarded. He felt that every good thing that his father had given was based on his hard work and performance and that he had earned it. He felt as though his father owed him something. And when the wasteful son got the fatted calf and he didn’t, he resented it. The father had already given it to him, he just had not recognized it.
Our expectations often color our reactions and responses to the world around us. What we should want are expectations that are based on the character of God, the promises of His word and that are steeped in grace and mercy, not fear and legalism.
Love you more than a mostly melted Almond Joy.
Pastor Randy
