Luke 15 Devotional

The Father Who Runs

“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”Luke 15:20 (BSB)

Luke 15 begins with a complaint. Tax collectors and sinners gather around Jesus, and religious leaders grumble that he welcomes and eats with them (15:1-2). Jesus answers with three stories. A shepherd searches until he finds one lost sheep, a woman sweeps until she finds one lost coin, and heaven rejoices like that over one sinner who repents (15:4-10).

In the third, a younger son wastes his inheritance and comes home hoping only to be a hired servant. While he is still far off, his father sees him, is filled with compassion, runs to him, and embraces him. He answers his son's confession with a robe, a ring, and a feast (15:20-24). The older brother refuses to go in, and the father goes out and pleads with him too (15:28). Both sons are sought. Grace is not a reward for coming back well. It meets you while you are still a long way off, and it invites you to share the Father's joy over others who are found.

To think about: Do you see yourself more in the younger son or the older one today, and what would it mean to let the Father's welcome reach you there?