(This message series is inspired and excerpted from He Loves Me! by Wayne Jacobsen.)
The Relationship God Has Always Wanted with Me –
A Father Like No Other
“’THE OLD MAN IS A FOOL! And so is my brother. Good riddance to you all!’ If those weren’t his words, they at least express his attitude. How he must have cackled in delight that his father had actually given him his share of the inheritance that he had demanded. He was finally free of his father and the hard work of the family farm, too. With more money than he could imagine spending in a lifetime, he walked off to find himself in a world filled with opportunity.” (p. 25)
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. [12] And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. [13] Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. [14] And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. [15] So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. [16] And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. (Luke 15:11-16)
“Traditionally this story is called “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” and is one of Jesus’ most poignant tales. It has been told and retold because it is so easy to identify with the son and the mercy he received in spite of his arrogance and stupidity. By focusing on the prodigal son, however, we lose the central lesson of the parable. He was only one of two brothers, each dealing with an estrangement from their father, albeit in vastly different ways.” (p. 26) Where does your focus tend to land? Why? What about the father?
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! [18] I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. [19] I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ [20] And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. [21] And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ [22] But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. [23] And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. [24] For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:17-23)
“Anyone hearing Jesus’ story for the first time would be shocked at this father’s actions. His arrogant son dishonored him by asking for his inheritance while the father was still alive and by all indications was nowhere near death’s door. What kind of son claims his father’s inheritance while he’s still alive? How dare he even ask! As rude as the son’s request might have been, we can at least understand it. We all know what it is to want to get our hands on Dad’s money, even if most of us are too civil to pursue it. But it’s this father who defies comprehension. What did the father do in response to this outrageous request? He gave it to him. This is even more shocking than the son asking. He divided the inheritance between his two sons and let him go. How many fathers would do that, especially knowing the younger son was up to no good? What kind of father was this?” (pp. 26-27) What would your father have done? What are your experiences with “tough love”?
“Was he indifferent to his son’s plight? Parents who have watched their sons or daughters make bad choices know that waiting is far more difficult than prodding or nagging. But wait he did, for a marvelous thing to happen— to let the son come to his senses. We soon find out, however, just how expectant that waiting was. Years later when the son returned, the father spotted him while he was still a long ways off. The only way that would have happened was if the father had been constantly looking. He probably never walked by the road without looking down it, hoping against hope that today would be the day his boy would come home. I can see him with one eye on his work, the other focused down the road, looking for the familiar gait of his beloved son. One day he spotted him, even though the young man would have been emaciated with hunger and hunched over in humiliation. ‘That’s him! That’s my boy!’” (p. 27)
“Can you imagine what his son must have thought when he finally looked up and saw his father bearing down on him? Could he tell if he was joyful or angry? He must have thought the latter, for he launched into his prepared speech even before his father got there. ‘I am not worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired men.’ But his words were not even acknowledged by the father, as he reached his son and swallowed up the words with hugs and kisses of delight. Not a hint of anger came from the father, nor would he talk one moment about the son’s offer to be his servant. He was too overcome with joy; the son he’d awaited had found his way home.” (p. 28)
“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. [26] And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. [27] And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ [28] But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, [29] but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. [30] But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ [31] And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. [32] It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’” (Luke 15:25-32 ESV)
“Though it may appear that what the son wanted drove this story, a closer look shows just otherwise. What the father wanted is the key here, and he wanted it so desperately he would spare nothing to have it. What do you think that was?” (pp. 28-29) In this incredible story, when do you think the father loved his son the most?
“The events in this story cannot be accounted for by the varying love of the father— only the varying perception of it by the son. Though he was not less loved at any point in the story, through most of it he lived as if he were. When he took the money from his father and stormed off the farm, grateful to be out from under his clutches and free to pursue his own way, he lived less loved. When he spent this money in a foreign land, wasting it on his own pleasures and thinking he’d finally fooled his father, he lived less loved. Even when he started for home, practicing his plea of repentance, willing to be a slave, he lived less loved.” (pp. 30-31)
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19 ESV)
“When we worry that God will ask us for some horrible sacrifice, we live less loved. When we indulge ourselves in sin, we live less loved. When we give in to anxiety in the crush of our circumstances, we live less loved. When we try to earn God’s favor by our own efforts, we live less loved. Even when we get caught up in religious obligations to make ourselves acceptable to him, we live less loved.” (p. 31)
Jesus ended the story at an interesting point. The younger son was in the house enjoying his newfound relationship with his father. The older son was still outside weighing his options. Would he come to know just how much he was loved and join the celebration, or would he remain convinced of his father’s unfairness and stay angry and alone outside? The choice was his— and it is yours! Everything about your life hinges on the answer to one simple question: Do you know how loved you really are? Isn’t it about time you found out? (pp. 31-32)
What kinds of things have you done when you’ve felt “less loved” by God? Think of some ways that God has demonstrated his love for you, even when you did nothing to earn it. (p. 32)
For Your Personal Journey
Ask God to show you where you live less loved. What does it make you do: run your own way like the younger brother or work even harder like the older one? God wants you to know that there is nothing you can do to make him love you any more today, and nothing you can do that will make him love you any less. He just loves you. Ask him to teach you how true that is so you can live in freedom. (p. 32)
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