LUKE 15:11-20 – And Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs 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 more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”

THEME OF THE DAY: GOD OF ALL MERCY.  Today’s scripture is Jesus’ familiar Parable of the Prodigal Son. Within its story are so many nuggets of instruction and application.  There is the prodigal son himself warning us of the deception of things and pleasures of the world leading us down a road of destruction.  We also look at the older brother; a classic religionist or Pharisee.  He complained to his father for not rewarding him like his younger brother. We detect pride and a selfish heart.  And now the third major character in the story – the father.

What a beautiful picture of our Heavenly Father and His treatment of us.  I am not sure anyone captures the heart of the prodigal father better than Matthew Henry. He wrote, “His father saw him – there were eyes of mercy; he ran to meet him – there were legs of mercy; he put his arms round his neck – there were arms of mercy; he kissed him – there were kisses of mercy; he said to him – there were words of mercy; Bring here the best robe – there were deeds of mercy; wonder of mercy – all mercy! Oh, what a God of mercy He is!”

In describing the God of all mercy, our God of all mercy, understand and rejoice, that His outpouring of mercy is not limited.  The Apostle Paul would remind us of the abundance of God’s mercy – But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-7).

Rejoice in such mercy and may it be a catalyst to keep us off the path of prodigal children!

PRAYER: “My God, I praise You for being such a good, merciful, and loving Father.”

QUOTE: “No Christian sins so great that he or she is beyond the merciful reach of God.”

In the affection of Christ Jesus,

Pastor Jim