God as Our Father | Devotional | Luke 15:11-32

Today's devotional is from The story of the Lost Son in Luke 15.

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 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.

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

22 “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. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 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.’”

I think that this story is perfect to do as a devotional before Father's Day because it tells us a lot about our heavenly Father's character. Many people's opinion of God as a father is tainted if they did not have a good relationship with their dad on Earth. It is hard to recognize God as a good Father if your father was absent or abusive. But, in this story, we see God as a Father. A good Father.

We see God as compassionate, loving, forgiving, and joyful. We see it so well when the younger son was returning home. Verse 20 says, "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." This is such a beautiful image. How many times do we fall into temptation or turn away from God? Personally… a lot. But every time I turn back to my Father in heaven, He welcomes me with open arms and compassion. I am not scolded for my wrongdoing, and God's love is never withheld from me.

As a father, God celebrates us. He celebrates our victories with us, and He dwells with us in our sorrows. He will walk every single stage of life with us and never leave us. Even when we leave Him, we are welcomed back with open arms. Even if we feel so far away from God, He is never far from us.

From no work of your own, you are adopted and accepted as a child of God. God loves you because He loves you. And he created you, and you have a great purpose as a son or a daughter.

This Father's Day, I hope you can celebrate your father on Earth and your Father in heaven.