“The Lord’s gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love” - Psalm 145:8 (NIV).
The well told story of the prodigal son, who demanded his share of wealth, left home, squandered everything and having plunged in poverty, suddenly realized he had a home with a loving Father to return to, captures the essence of God’s love (Luke 15:11-32).
The world promotes and practices a different kind of love. For many, love generally has to do with reciprocal relationships- scratch my back and I will scratch yours. And so often we find in many of our personal relations “love” means returning the favour of those who “love” us. But once we find such lacking, our expectations not met; then, it is time to pick up our marbles.
In the Prodigal son’s story we find that the elder son who never left home and kept serving his father, expected that once his brother would light up, the door would be slammed in his face. Perhaps he was even delighted that the prodigal son had left him a wide berth. Yet, to his consternation, the Father received this prodigal son back, with wide arms. This was so, as the son had fallen on his knees in repentance. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son” (vv 21).
One thing all can agree is God has given us free will to receive or reject him. Daily many are picking up, like the Prodigal son, and abandoning the first love of the creator. But God is not holding that against them. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
Today, if you feel you are far from the Lord, or have done something so terrible, do not think God is like man waiting to hold it against you. Once you repent He has His arms spread out and waiting to receive you back home.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a privilege to know that we have a Father, willing and ready to receive us, with wide arms, no matter the past, once we come to Him in repentance, and may His name be praised, this I pray in Jesus’s name!
Related upcoming events
-
08/05/2024 - 09/05/2024 All day“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
The culture of sharing gifts runs through scriptures and is at the heart of the Gospel. Upon realizing that Jesus Christ had been born the three wise main did not just go empty handed. “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Mathew 2:11).
When Jacob decided to return to his country, he went with gifts to soften the heart of his twin brother Esau, whom he had left maddened at him for various wrongs. “Then he selected these gifts from his possessions to present to his brother, Esau: 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 30 female camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys” ( Genesis 32: 13-15). The reason was, Jacob thought, “I will try to appease him by sending gifts ahead of me. When I see him in person, perhaps he will be friendly to me.” So the gifts were sent on ahead, while Jacob himself spent that night in the camp” (vv 2—21).
Esau was already a wealthy man and had no need of the gifts presented. But Jacob pleaded with him. “Please take this gift I have brought you, for God has been very gracious to me. I have more than enough.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau finally accepted the gift” (Genesis 33: 11). This symbol of good touched Esau, brightened his heart, burying the old acrimonious relation.
Taking after these two instances believers should be in the habit of sharing gifts. We should visit each other not empty handed but like the wise men with gifts, not so much that those we are gifting are lacking, but as a way of blessing them. Proverbs 11:25-26, says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
Most importantly we bless each other with gifts because we have received the most important gift there is in life, the gift of salvation. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I thank you for the most precious gift of all that you gave me of eternal life through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and so I pray that I may not hesitate to share this gift and bless those with as much whom you enable me to meet, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
