A Gracious Reception

A Gracious Reception

I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”‘ “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

Luke 15:18-24

Behold, the open arms of a loving father! Our scene for today opens with a destitute young man, reasoning with himself about the realities of his situation, and resolving what to do about it. He says, ‘I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you…’ Here is a humbled, contrite soul in search of a way back. He bows his once proud head, practices his speech of repentance, and stumbles his way toward home. It is fascinating that the father saw him coming. It is the evidence of the father’s love that he, the old man, ran to greet the wayward child. It is a testimony of the grace of the father that he rejoiced in his arrival, and restored him to his position. So also does God, our Heavenly Father do for us. He meets us in Christ. He embraces us on the Homeward Road. He has been waiting for us, and runs to meet us. His Love has drawn us. His Way has conveyed us. His Arms embrace us. He ushers us in to clothe us, adorn us, and feed us. He rejoices at our arrival and restores us to the position He always had prepared for us. What a gracious reception! What a grand reunion! What a delightful homecoming! Here is the place for you to be. Here is the reception which awaits you. Here is the Home you desire.

Our most Gracious and Kind Father,
we rejoice that You run to meet sinners.
We praise You that You await us with open arms,
embrace us fully, and rejoice over our homecoming.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning