June 6, 2012
This is the THIRD installment of a series of WADD articles dealing with the “father who knew how to let go” taken from Luke 15:11-32. To read the first two in the series please go to www.whatadaddoes.blogspot.com
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. (Luke 15:21)
At this point in the story we know that the son is really sorry for his choices and his actions but the father who ran out to meet him and kiss him doesn’t know. Actually, we’re not even sure that he is truly repentant (we don’t learn that until later in the story). At any rate the father was so filled with love for his son he was just thrilled to see him. Because of his compassion for his son, he probably thought something like, “all that other stuff can be sorted out later.” I once knew a dad who told me that if his errant son were to ever return home, that he’d have to come crawling on his hands and knees begging for forgiveness. I’m so glad our hero in this story didn’t feel that way. He wanted the son to return and was willing to take him back by faith even without knowing whether he was truly repentant.
As I read this verse several questions came to my mind.
What do you suppose was going on in the Father’s mind while he was gone? Worry, fear, dread, panic? Well, at least that’s what I think would be going through my mind. However, this dad doesn’t seem to be operating out of those motivations. There seems to be a quiet confidence and trust that God was working. God is in control. God is big enough to handle my son’s waywardness. Yes, he was anxious to receive him back but he gave no preconditions to the greeting.
What sense of worth did the father project to his son? I remember so well, as I’m sure my children do, that all too often when they had “gone prodigal” I was ready to browbeat them at first sight. I regret those times and am grateful for their forgiveness. Dad, I’m fully convinced that if we project a profound sense of worth toward our children they will rise up to that standard. Instead of calling them ‘worthless’, ‘no good’, ‘shiftless’, etc., we need to be projecting upon them what God sees in them…He sees them as created in His image, of great value, worth dying for. Mark 11:23-24 leads us to believe that whatever we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth … that’s what comes to pass. In fact that’s exactly the way you became a Christian, if indeed you have. Your kids need to know that you believe in them and then you need to tell them so.
What significance does the fact that "while he was still a long way off, his father saw him" mean? It means he was looking for him day and night, day after day. He was anticipating his son's return. The same way that God is looking for us to return.
…God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 ESV
In the midst of Israel's rebellion and constant failures to live up to God's requirements, the Lord says,
Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he'll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs. Zephaniah 3:17 MSG
Our Father is out searching for us as illustrated above; shouldn't we the redeemed be as magnanimous to our offspring?
What does "felt compassion for him" mean?
Now I know Dads aren't known for being all "touchy feely," but it doesn't say our hero in the story felt anger, resentment, frustration, wrath or revenge. No, he felt compassion. (By the way, why don’t we ever call these negative emotions, “touchy feely”?) How could the dad feel compassion? Isn’t it because he fully forgave him?
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Matthew 5:44 KJV
Dad, what are you feeling right now toward your children, especially the one(s) who may be “going rogue” or have an attitude issue right now?
What significance does the fact that he ran to his son mean? He had been waiting a long time. He was anxious to restore the relationship. Relationship is of vital importance. If you have kids in rebellion, do everything you can to keep the relationship “door” open. In all of Israel’s Biblical history, God was always anxious to restore relationship. “Repent and return to Me” is a continuous theme of the Old Testament. Do you run to meet your sons and daughters? I don’t mean that standards or house rules aren’t important, but are they aware that being in relationship with them is the most important part of your job as a dad?
Is there significance in regard to the father embracing and kissing his son? Many fathers think that if they hug or kiss their sons it may cause them to be sissies or be somewhat less masculine. Actually, the opposite is true. I admit that this point is debated among psychological professionals (mostly non-Biblical), many believe (me included) that when a dad deprives a son (or daughter for that matter) of physical affection the child will tend to look for male affection in other places, i.e., promiscuity of various forms. There are only a few men who can give proper non-sexual touching to a young man i.e., dad’s and granddads. Don’t be afraid to let your sons (and daughters) know that you love him/her with appropriate physical affection. Are your kids looking elsewhere for physical affirmation?
The dad who knew how to let go modeled godly behavior, attitudes and thought processes for us. He knew that …
Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time. James 2:13 MSG
THIS IS WHAT AN OPEN-HEARTED DAD DOES!
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