My Favorite Verses - Vol III (Aug 16 to Nov 16)
A collection of brief commentaries on some of the Bible’s most beloved (and least understood) passages, parables, verses & sayings
A collection of brief commentaries on some of the Bible’s most beloved (and least understood) passages, parables, verses & sayings
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Luke 15:20 … While we were still far off<br />
(10/31/20<strong>16</strong>)<br />
“But while he was still far off, his Father saw him and was filled with<br />
Compassion; and ran out <strong>to</strong> put his arms around him and kiss him.”<br />
~ Jesus Christ (Luke 15:20)<br />
This is the most important verse from one of Jesus‟ most important parables --<br />
The Parable of the Prodigal Son (see Luke 15:11-32). In this tale, a devoutly selfish<br />
son takes his massive inheritance, leaves his father‟s house, and travels abroad <strong>to</strong><br />
squander those riches in a life of sin & debauchery. And yet despite it all, when<br />
that son hits rock bot<strong>to</strong>m and decides <strong>to</strong> come home, his father welcomes him with<br />
open arms – with no scoldings, with no guilt-trips, with no passive-aggressive<br />
shaming, and with no uncomfortably “appropriate” punishments or fairly “just”<br />
consequences. The father simply sees him on the horizon and – despite knowing<br />
full well exactly where the son went and the irresponsibly wicked things he had<br />
done while away – runs <strong>to</strong> him and wraps his arms around him …<br />
Most importantly of all – and this is the part that almost all the Christians I<br />
know miss completely – the father runs <strong>to</strong> the son and fully forgives him before<br />
the son even attempts <strong>to</strong> apologize; before he asks for redemption and without<br />
him asking even directly <strong>to</strong> a<strong>to</strong>ne for his wrongs. The Forgiveness of the father in<br />
this s<strong>to</strong>ry is given immediately, it is given unconditionally, and it is given<br />
absolutely – just like the Forgiveness that must be given by any God who is all-<br />
Loving; by any God who is in any way even remotely worth worshiping (see<br />
Matthew 5:48, Luke 6:36, Matthew 18:21-22 & 1 John 4:18).<br />
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