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.’

Luke 15:20-21 (NKJV)

 

The prodigal son in the parable was always a son, even though he was estranged from his father. The father had never loved or treated him less favourably—but because the son was unaware of his father's affection for him, he could never enjoy and reciprocate the relationship.

Many people have difficulty believing God loves them. They are unable to fully receive all that God has to offer through Christ because they do not understand the breadth, length, height, and depth of God's love in Christ (Ephesians 3:18). Thus, it is essential to proclaim to everyone about God's love so that they can know Him, experience it for themselves, and be reconciled with Him.

When we cannot recognise God's love for the lost and those who have gone astray, it is easy for us to be judgemental and condescending towards others. Because of this mindset and attitude, Christians are known for what they oppose rather than what they support. As a result, many people have a negative attitude towards Christians.

If we genuinely believe that God is love and that His unfailing love resides within us, we must reveal and reflect His love in how we speak and treat others. Imagine what will happen if we make God's compassion for the lost the core reason for our life’s purpose? Imagine what will happen if we are enthusiastic about getting people to want God in their lives. Consider what will happen if these people discover for themselves God's all-encompassing love, acceptance, and forgiveness.

As you receive God's hospitality of grace and love, learn to extend it to a broken, fearful, and isolated world. The gospel teaches us that God's amazing grace saves all through Jesus Christ. This is crucial because when people get to hear the gospel and truly embrace it, there is no room for guilt, shame, or condemnation to rob them of their righteous confidence before the Father and the ability to live out who they truly are in Christ.

What is God saying to me here and what must I do?