The Love Of The Father

How you think God sees you?

How do you see God?

Do you see God as looking down waiting for us to mess up so He can punish?

Do you see God as a grandfather figure just patting everyone on the head ?

The Bible says in 1John 4:16 GOD IS LOVE; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Jesus told a parable in the Bible about a son that had ask his Father for his inheritance so he could leave his home and live on his own.

This story is known best as the Prodigal son but, I want to focus on the Father and his love and forgiveness.

Let’s look at this as a parable of the Father as God and each time the son is mentioned let’s put our name there.

Luke chapter 15 verses 11 thru 22

Lu 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

Lu 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

Lu 15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

Lu 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

Lu 15:15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

Lu 15:16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

Lu 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

Lu 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

Lu 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

Lu 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

Lu 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

Lu 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet

According to the Old Testament it was accustom to stone to death a rebellious son. You were to take him out in the street and announce it and everyone would throw stones at you until you were dead.

But it was the love of the Father that he would give his son his inheritance and in that day it was accustom for sons to do that although it would be an embarrassment to the Father.

This was no small inheritance because this father must have been rich because he had servants, gold and cattle.

In modern day terms, he partied hard, I would image he paid for everybody’s drugs and laid it on a table for all to use, bought drinks for the house and so on.

I would say he had a lot of friends for that period of time.

But the son spent it all on riotous living as the Bible puts it. Same as today, think your having a good time with drugs, alcohol…its riotous living.

Bible says that he. joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. and verse 18 says and no man gave unto him

This citizen sent him to feed his pigs and live with them. He was probably one of his partying friend. Hey, what are friends for.

You feed my pigs and you can eat with them.

The Bible says he was glad to have the husks to eat and no man gave unto him.

The son was down as far as anyone could go in life.

Then the Bible says he came unto himself in verse 17

He realized his security and needs met by his father when he was home.

He said my father’s servants have bread to eat and I’m going to starve! Here with these pigs, But he came to himself…

He realizes that his Father could supply his every need.

God has promised you won’t starve. He is going to meet your needs.

He never promised to meet your wants or your luxuries, but He will meet your needs.