Podcasts / Devotionals

The Prodigal Father

June 19, 2016

#TheFathersLove

How great a Father’s Love, that we should be called His children (1 John 3.1). Each of us hold a special memory of our earthly fathers, for some this may not be so easy. How can we be encouraged to embrace the unchanging love of our Heavenly Father, who also compassionately pursues us?

The word “always” has stuck with me all my life. It is special to me because it reminds me of Heavenly Father who is always with me. Even through a time of loss and brokenness, I was always reminded of the Father’s love, speaking to me saying: “you were lost, but now you are found and made alive.”

Love That’s Found

There is one story of the Bible that sticks out to me found in Luke 15:11-24. Most of us are familiar with this commonly known parable as “The Prodigal Son.”

However, there is something huge that we are missing from this passage. In fact, it’s never said. 11And He said, “A man had two sons. 12“The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. 13“And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. 14“Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. 15“So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16“And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 17“But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18‘I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’ 20“So he got up and came to his father.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21“And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22“But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.  

The Missing Part

Here is the huge part that’s missing. Look at the parable again. Never once in this text, or in any translation for that matter, is the boy called “the prodigal son.” The word prodigal is often misunderstood; let’s look at this word again according to Webster’s Dictionary. ‘Prodigal’ means: spending money or resources freely and recklessly; lavish, wastefully extravagant: prodigal habits die hard.

At first glance, many take this word to mean rebellious and wayward. But this is not the full truth of this definition. We also see the words freely, lavish and extravagant. Keep this definition in mind and read the story again. Who is the real prodigal in the parable? We are His purchased and redeemed sons and daughters.

The Prodigal Father

The boy is not the prodigal. Provided, he was wasteful and reckless with his life; yet, there is something also familiar that we see in his father.

Perhaps, there is a different side of the story that we are missing. The father also is exceedingly reckless and wasteful with his love to his undeserving son. The father is the prodigal. And we, as undeserving children, so the Father lavishes his love on us.

We come to our senses, and return to Him broken and empty, so He may fill us with His extravagant love – freely as we have received in Jesus.  

The Reality of Identity

Regardless of our failures, sin and past. He sees us coming far-off, does not hesitate, but gets up and runs to us. He pours His love on without condemnation, judgement, nor directing guilt or shame. As He sees us, He is filled with compassion and runs to us with full abandon. Throws His arms around us and kisses us. Even while we were dead in our sins, the Father embraces us, throws the robe of Jesus around us. He puts on the ring-seal of the Holy Spirit, and the Gospel to our feet.  

Extravagant Love Pursues Us

We tell Him we are not worthy, yet he tells the servants: “bring out the best robe…let us eat and celebrate…he was lost and has been found.” This is the kind of love we expect to see from God, but sometimes unexpect to see it flow so lavishly from the Father. For we were once dead, but now we are made alive.

He is not ashamed of you. God loves you. He is proud to be called your Father. No matter our past, history, or family, our Heavenly Father is right to call us His children.

When we look at Father’s Day, let us be reminded that it’s not a Hallmark day. The Father’s love is not even a religious tradition. It is the Father’s character and decision to love us because of Who He is. Let the celebration begin. As a worshiper how does this change your worship to God? As a worship leader/team, how does this shape the way you lead others in worship?


@BranonDempsey @worshiptt



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Copyright 2016 Worship Team Training®
Source Used By Permission Buddy Owens “The Way of a Worshiper”