A Father's Delight                                                                                                                      B - 1

 

If you asked a young boy growing up in northern Minnesota what the word “check” means, he would probably describe a certain hockey game action.  Use the same word in a bank setting, and an employee will think of a small piece of paper used to pay bills.  Use that very same term when talking about Europe and a person who lives in the Czech Republic will come to mind.  Similarly, “hardware” was used in reference to a type of store; now it’s used in connection with computers.  A “car” can be anything from a teen’s first jalopy to a wealthy person’s Lexus.  There are many such examples of what the very same word can mean to different people.

Jesus knew that the same word could be misunderstood even by his followers.  For instance, to some people the word “father” could then, and can now, bring thoughts of safety, security, stability, love and care.  But for another person, the very same word “father” might cause uneasiness, fear, alarm, and even danger.  Bad memories upon bad memories!

Jesus wanted to make sure, to make clear, to imprint upon us firmly, what our heavenly Father is really like.  That’s why Jesus used a story that today we refer to as the “Prodigal Son” story.  An outlandish story in the times of Jesus, but to seekers it will deliver mountains of hope!

 

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.  The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’  So he divided the property between them”. 

Not long after that, the younger son got together all that he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.  After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in the whole country, and he began to be in need.  So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed his pigs.  He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 

When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death.  I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’  So he got up and went to his father. 

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 

The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick, bring the best robe and put it on him.  Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fatted calf and kill it.  Let’s have a feast and celebrate.  For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is now found.’  So they began to celebrate. 

Meanwhile, the older son was in the field.  When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.  ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 

The older brother became angry and refused to go in.  So his father went out and pleaded with him.  But he answered his father, ‘Look!  All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders.  Yet you never even gave me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.  But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 

‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.  But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

 Luke 15:11-32 (NIV)

 

A story of a Father delighting in his sons.....

In the society in which Jesus grew up, the father of each family was the absolute ruler.  The father was the one who made all the decisions, and who commanded all respect.  He could be at times, and was, somewhat removed from the caring of children and the giving of love.  The idea that a father would go out, or even run out, to see a petulant child was just too difficult to comprehend and believe.  That particular image remains even today, when so many people think of God that same way: a distant, rather stern keeper of accounts. 

But it is a grossly incorrect image; it’s the exact opposite of the truth!  And Jesus wanted to tell us how we should see our heavenly Father!

Note that the father, in the story, saw his errant son “a long way off”, he had compassion on him, he ran out to meet him while the son was still on his way, he gave the son a huge hug, he kissed him repeatedly.  Rather than waiting for an apology and then handing out discipline, the father was overwhelmed with joy and just had to have a party to celebrate.  In fact, the father didn’t even comment on the son’s apology; he was too filled with happiness, joy, relief, and thankfulness. 

As if that wasn’t enough, notice that the father “went out” a second time and “pleaded” with the older son.  Again, this concept was so hard for the original listeners of this story to comprehend.  Note that the father didn’t get upset at the narrowness of his older son’s vision, or his blatant selfishness; he didn’t scold and berate the son.  Rather, he reminded his son that everything in his father’s world was meant to be shared and enjoyed by that older son, every day.  There were to be no barriers, no hindrances, and no separation.  The father indeed tried to strengthen and deepen the relationship between himself and his older son.

Sometimes we also feel that we are in a distant country, alone and torn up inside.  Or, we may be somewhere closer to the father’s estate, yet still not really understanding his heart.  Perhaps we have spent years in such places.  We may sense a separation which has left you empty.  Indeed, the words “father”, and “child”, and “care”, as examples are words that us down.

Know this: we have a Father who wants and is ready to run to you, to hug you, to kiss you, to celebrate with you, to give you an abundant life, to share everything He has with you.  When you read buzzwords such as father, child, care and so on, try to understand them anew, from God’s point of view!!!

Today is a great day to start your journey back to Him.  He will meet you more than half-way!!! 

 

1) In this story, did the father have every right to discipline both of his sons? 

2) In a sense, is this story believable? Could there be such a father whose LOVE for his children overwhelms his “normal” need to discipline them? 

3) What does the phrase “a long way off” mean about the father? 

4) When the father told his oldest son that “everything I have is yours”, what does that mean for us, for today?  Are we able to really understand this? 

5) Was there excitement in the father’s heart as spoke to both his boys? 

6) In your opinion, how important were relationships to this father? 

7) Is there a difference in your current perception of Father-God, as opposed to the description of Him in this story? 

8) How would this new perception of Father-God change areas of numb/dry/hopeless/fearful feelings in your heart and mind?   

9) Can you sense that this new perception of Father-God will lead to a deep and lasting revival in you?