Stage 3: Return.
“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.”
Remember: in this story, this is the ideal father responding. This is God. This is not a typical human being. This is what God would do—in fact, it’s what God does to you in your rebellion. It’s a model for us.
How to Respond
- Love them faithfully, stubbornly
- Accept them unconditionally and affectionately (this doesn’t mean you approve of their actions)
- Forgive them completely
“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. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate!'”
What I love about this father: he didn’t rub it in. He didn’t keep reminding his son or hold it over his head for the rest of his life. The father gave him a second chance. He forgave him completely.
The Heart of the Story
This story shows how God deals with our rebellion—that’s its primary purpose. We’ve all taken matters into our own hands. The Bible says we’ve all sinned and done our own thing. We’ve messed up our lives.
But God says, “Come on home!”
God gives us another chance.
This article originally appeared here.
