we’ve gotten it all wrong with the prodigal son
I shut my eyes tightly as worship started, forcefully trying to block out the thousands of others around me. I desperately needed to connect with God in a way I hadn’t allowed myself in far too long.
And as I asked Him to meet me in that place of brokenness, the Prodigal Son came to mind.
The story seemed to unfold behind my closed eyes, and a tear trickled down my face as I saw the father run out to embrace his son. God reminded me that it was Him running out to meet me.
No matter how far I’ve wandered, no matter how broken and messed up I’ve become, no matter how grimy and soiled I am, He runs out to meet me.
I saw with fresh eyes as He wrapped His robe of righteousness around me. He put His ring on my finger to remind me of the seal of His Spirit in my heart. And He didn’t just call for the fattened calf. He sent His prize Lamb—the perfect Lamb of God—to be sacrificed for me.
I think we got it all wrong in calling this the Story of the Prodigal Son.
I think it’s actually the Story of the Prodigal Father.
Prodigal means recklessly extravagant, lavishly abundant.
And that is the perfect description of the love the Father embraces His broken children with.
this is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. for all the reasons you have listed. i love how the Father runs to the son with such great love and embraces him. perfect.
“Prodigal means recklessly extravagant, lavishly abundant.”
That makes me run faster towards Him
Love you!
Thanks, Alece for this reassurance. I can’t even run today, just have to stand here because with His speed He is abt to catch me b4 I fall. This timing has given me more hope that today He’s seeing to it that my case is settled. Love u lots:)
I *love* that He gave you this vision, this fresh revelation of Himself to you. This makes my heart so full for you, and for Him.
This comes to mind:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Voawjjqg8zw&feature=related
good stuff, friend.
so full.
Requesting permission to preach this, por favor. Good stuff!
of course, amiga!
I never ever thought of looking up the meaning of ‘prodigal’… my GOD…. this turns the traditional teaching on its head….
“I think it’s actually the Story of the Prodigal Father.
Prodigal means recklessly extravagant, lavishly abundant.
And that is the perfect description of the love the Father embraces His broken children with.”
Wow……
I think I want to let this sink in….
i know, right?! i don’t know how i’ve missed that all my life…
Wow!
Need that perfect fatherly embrace right now.. Thanks for sharing!
WOW! Best post award! This was just what I needed..
So beautiful! :) Can’t wait to see what February will hold… January has been so amazing for you :) Yay!
I read this and then looked up Tim Keller’s Prodigal God. I haven’t read the book but I may go pick it up. The sermon notes pointed to somethings I had never saw when I read that parable before.
http://www.theprodigalgod.com/resources.html
Really amazing! Not just that God the Father is recklessly extravagant, lavishly abundant., but that Jesus was the elder brother we needed. He didn’t complain about being wronged when the younger brother came back but He was the One who was willing to lay down His rights to the inheritance to bring all the lost brothers back to the family.
so many people have recommended this book — i’d never heard of it before this! but it’s on my wishlist now for sure. thank you for that link, too – some great stuff there!
Thank you for this post. Very much needed right now.
i’m glad God used this for both our hearts…
This was beautiful Lecers, Thank you!
I’m pretty far away from Him right now. I think I’m dodging His leaps toward me sometimes, though.
Thank you for writing this.
Your thoughts and your unique ability to put them into words them amaze me.
i cannot even begin to tell you how much your comment meant to me.
and how many times i’ve read it.
thank you, friend.
This is great!
My grandmother told me last night about the book Prodigal God and it had me intrigued…
“Prodigal means recklessly extravagant, lavishly abundant.” I never knew that! Great perspective and insight… I will be processing this all day today
I take it you’ve read Tim Keller’s “The Prodigal God” ?
i haven’t! in fact i’d never heard of it before so many people started recommended it in the comments here!
Alece….. you are such a gifted writer. Don’t ever forget what the Lord has brought you through, and continues to bring you closer to him. Follow your heart, trust him and he will direct your path. You must quit taking your life back, and move forward. The Lord has carried you for a long time, and he will continue to, but you must want to take the steps on your own, and let him guide you. He will never leave you or forsake you. He is able to do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Are you ready to take a step out of the past and into the future? A new beginning is waiting for you….. I love you my sweet girl. weezer
So very, very true… It’s not just a story about a son who considered his father as good as dead, asked for his inheritance and left to squander it all…. or about a son who was busy working in the fields to gain entrance into the father’s house… It’s about a Father who loved extravagantly…
The prodigal knew he could always return home, though he couldn’t see fully the heart of his father. The older brother didn’t realize that his father’s heart would say… “all I have has always been yours” Yet it did.
I love the story of the prodigal son. I’ve written about it a couple of times on my blog.
Here’s one: http://jewelsightings.blogspot.com/2009/07/all-he-has-is-yours.html
Love what you wrote here… so beautiful!
you are so blessed with such great wisdom. this reminds me of tim keller’s book (which i have only heard preached on) but with a ton of (legal and good kind of) steroids.
it’s hard when the earthly father and the heavenly father don’t match up. in fact they contradict one another. but i’m grateful for the love of the heavenly father even though it’s hard to see that played out down here by my earthly parentals. I want to know God’s prodigal love and embrace.
i hear you on the contradiction. that adds tremendously to my struggle to receive my heavenly Father’s prodigal love for me, too.
It is hard for me to wrap my mind around God wrapping his arms around me like that. I don’t have a problem picturing myself hugging tight like that picture. I love hugging. I love, loving. I have a hard time being loved.
That is a hard hug for me to embrace. (BW). one day. i am walking towards trusting very slowly.
i love loving you.
which makes me shake my head at how much more He must love loving you.
Wow. I had to sit for a moment just to soak that in… and I’m loving this lesson so much more than the one I’ve read for years. I always learn something looking through your eyes, girl.
I just started reading The Prodigal God
my mentor just finished it and has raved about it non-stop
it’s a pretty incredible concept
one that is hard to grasp for some reason
but His love for me is more than I can even understand
or hope to comprehend
I can just dive in and never fear reaching the end
Wow. That is good.
I haven’t read the other posts, so this may be a repeat. Have you read the Prodigal God? by Tim Keller. Sorry if every other comment has recommended this :)
jamie!!!!! how are you?!?!
and i haven’t read the book — but it’s on my wish list now that so many people have recommended it!