When God Runs

And he arose, and came to his father.  But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

Luke 15:20

People run for different reasons.  Some run for health; some run for fear; some run for acclaim; some run for a prize.  God runs for none of these reasons.  Recall to mind Who is telling the story.  This is Christ, describing the love of God the Father for those who are estranged from Him.  He has loved them enough to let them go.  He has loved them enough to look for their return.  Now, Christ describes how the father reacts once he has discerned the form of his errant son in the distant haze of the horizon. Christ says that he, ‘had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.’  God runs out of His sheer excitement at seeing His wandering children come home.  This is a wonderful insight into His character.  What excites the Sovereign Ruler of the universe enough to enable the Person Who know Him best to describe Him as running?  It is the return of his dearly beloved child. That is the reason God the Father runs.  Here is the beautiful character of our God on display.  Here we see who and what He really is.  Today, let us fix our hearts and minds upon God, Our Loving Father, Who runs to meet His returning child.

Our Good and Loving God,
we rejoice that You welcome us home
who have gone away from You.
We praise You for the privilege we have
of being taught by Christ
the elements of Your Holy Character.