The Father’s Heart – LOVE AT ITS BEST: When You Do WELCOME The Prodigals HOME!
Genuine love of God that is pure and remarkable is to be intentional and unreservedly living and loving beyond the walls and boundaries of comfort, but in letting God be — by loving the prodigals also in spite of and irrespective of, instead of playing the elder brother’s unhinged role of distrust towards the prodigals in all measures.
For it was while we were yet sinners that God’s love was shown to us without sentiment, prejudice and dissimulation. And God has given us such an amount of His lavished gracious love by the Holy Spirit to enable us to do likewise in His grace, as written:
“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the LOVE of God is SHED ABROAD IN OUR HEARTS by the Holy Ghost which is GIVEN unto us. 6 For when we were yet WITHOUT STRENGTH, in due time Christ DIED for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God COMMENDETH HIS LOVE toward us, in that, while we were YET SINNERS, Christ DIED for us” Romans 5:5-8.
So, let us have such boundless love of God in fulfilling purpose, to welcome home the prodigals and give them the opportunity to share in the fellowship of the brethren, to enact and enhance relationship with Father God in Christ Jesus’ stead. Amen. Be blessed in life and grace through this knowledge and understanding in Christ Jesus’ stead. Amen.
SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT:
“Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ 20 “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. 21 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.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring[b] out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. 25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ 28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found” Luke 15:11-32.
SUMMARY
The message is a call to reflect THE FATHER’S HEART – LOVE AT ITS BEST by WELCOMING THE PRODIGALS HOME with boundless, unreserved love, instead of the elder brother’s spirit of distrust.
KEY POINTS
- GOD’S LOVE IS THE STANDARD FOR HOW WE TREAT PRODIGALS
Genuine love of God is pure, remarkable, intentional and unreserved. It goes beyond the walls and boundaries of comfort.
It calls us to love prodigals in spite of and irrespective of, instead of taking the elder brother’s unhinged role of distrust Luke 15:25-30.
- GOD FIRST LOVED US WHILE WE WERE SINNERS
“But God COMMENDETH HIS LOVE toward us, in that, while we were YET SINNERS, Christ DIED for us” Romans 5:8
God showed us love without sentiment, prejudice and dissimulation when we were WITHOUT STRENGTH.
The Holy Spirit has shed abroad God’s lavished gracious love in our hearts to enable us to do likewise Romans 5:5.
- THE FATHER’S HEART IS TO WELCOME, RESTORE AND CELEBRATE
In the parable Luke 15:11-32:
- The Father saw the prodigal while he was still a great way off, had compassion, ran, and kissed him
- He clothed him, put a ring on his hand, and killed the fatted calf
- His response: “for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found”
This is love at its best — restoring relationship and fellowship without shame.
- OUR ROLE IS TO FULFIL PURPOSE BY WELCOMING THEM
We are to give prodigals the opportunity to share in the fellowship of the brethren so they can enact and enhance relationship with Father God in Christ Jesus’ stead.
This fulfils God’s purpose of restoration, not condemnation.
CALL TO ACTION
- Choose God’s Love Over Comfort: Be intentional and unreserved. Step beyond personal comfort to reach prodigals Romans 5:5.
- Reject the Elder Brother Spirit: Do not respond with distrust, anger or comparison Luke 15:28-30. Choose compassion instead.
- Welcome Them Home: Create room in the fellowship of the brethren. Celebrate their return. Restore dignity with the “robe, ring and sandals” Luke 15:22.
- Enable Relationship with the Father: Your love should point them back to Father God in Christ Jesus’ stead, so they can be fully restored.
- Walk in the Spirit’s Enablement: God has given us His love by the Holy Spirit to love as He loves Romans 5:5. Rely on that grace.
REV. CHUKIE MORSI
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