“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. ’
(Luke 15:20-21 NLT)
The Prodigal Son is a very well known story. To summarize it, a father had two sons, one went away and wasted a lot of his life, made mistakes and sinned against the father- the other stayed with his father doing all he could. Once the youngest son realized the world had NOTHING to offer him, he decided to return home to his father. He thought he had messed up so bad, that he was not worthy of being called ‘son,’ but in this story, we see that no matter what, the father came with so much love and compassion for his son.
So many of us feel like we have gone so far away from our daddy, Jesus. We no longer feel worthy of our Father’s love. We, in a sense, become the prodigal sons and daughters. You are never too far out to return to Jesus. Just like in this story, Jesus wants you home. He doesn’t want to make you feel bad, but He simply wants to love you, embrace you, and kiss you. He wants you to feel a father’s love.
Just return home. The world has nothing to offer you; if you ever think to live in this world is better than your relationship with Jesus, you’re wrong. Much like the son experienced; this world will turn its back on you, it will leave you cold. This world will never care about you the way Jesus does. Don’t run out there thinking you know better when, in actuality, you don’t. No matter how unworthy you feel to Jesus right now, He still loves you just the same.
For this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began. (Luke 15:24 NLT) Just return home. That’s all God wants so that He can love you. So He can show you that no matter how far away you feel you are, He’s always got the best room just for you. But you have to get there first.
Contemplating the story of The Prodigal Son from the Bible brings tears to my eyes and lights a fire inside my heart. So many times in my life, this story was used to keep me in fear, and so many more times in my life, I’ve felt beyond redemption. Yet the true meaning of this story serves as the beautiful reminder that I am welcomed back to the celebration of the glory of this infinite moment whenever I’m ready for it. No conditions. I can surrender my unworthiness and find myself in the eternal embrace of unconditional love. This is the ultimate truth of who I am.
In many ways, this story is the core archetype being told through everyone in the world. Each of us has taken this journey away from the truth of our oneness, and we’re trying to find our way back home. We’ve felt confused, alone, lost, afraid, ashamed, defeated, hopeless. We’ve believed the lie that we’re somehow bad or wrong. Yet we’re all welcomed back to the celebration of life whenever we’re ready to come home, whenever we’re ready to believe in love without limits. None of us is beyond redemption. Each of us is The Prodigal Son.
Hat_ Jos A. Bank
Blazer_ Brooks Brothers
Turtleneck_ Joseph Abboud
Shirt_ H&M
Pants_ Zara
Sneakers_ Steve Madden
