StorytellerSample

The Parable of the Lost Son (or Prodigal Son, depending on your translation) is another pretty famous Jesus story. Kid takes his dad’s money, runs off to Vegas, loses all of it, and returns home frightened and ashamed. And the Dad? Where you would expect anger and rejection, you find love and acceptance. It’s the quintessential depiction of God as our loving and gracious Father who welcomes us back regardless of what terrible mistakes we’ve made. 

First of all, if you’re new to faith or maybe you’re still just checking this whole Jesus thing out, then it might be a new concept to think of God as being willing to welcome you back regardless of your past. As you read this parable, let that truly sink in (maybe read it a few times). Notice the demeanor of the father, how he never gave up looking and hoping his son would return, and notice that there is ZERO “I told you so’s” or “how could you’s”…this dad is just ecstatic that his son is back! There is no hint of shame, and the father restores all of his legal rights as a true son in that culture (that’s what the ring, robe, and sandals thing is all about in verse 22). It’s truly an amazing message that never gets old!

Now, maybe you’re someone who’s been around church a long time…perhaps you’ve been following Jesus for years. And while you’re certainly still grateful for grace, this whole “lost son/loving father” thing is old news to you. Here’s what I want you to see in this story: the son fully expected to need to earn his way back into the family. He had this whole speech prepared for his father begging him to just let him be a servant…he had messed up big, and he knew it. He figured there would be some punishment coming his way – after all, that’s what he deserved. 

And while Jesus ends the story with the whole household celebrating the son’s return (minus the self-righteous older brother, but that’s a topic for a different time), I wonder if you or I were playing the part of the son in this story, would we be standing at that party still feeling unworthy? Would we be looking at our dad wondering if he was just acting happy and loving, or if things were actually going to be weird for the rest of our lives now? Would we be grateful for Dad’s forgiveness, but unable to forgive ourselves?

I think a lot of us fall into that trap. And it’s pretty subtle, so most of the time we don’t even realize that’s what we’re doing. Are you afraid to pray for what you really want because you expect God to say "no" since you don’t deserve it? When good things do happen in your life, are you secretly waiting for them to be taken away because it’s just too good and – once again – you don’t deserve it? When you picture God looking at you, is he smiling and proud, or angry and disappointed? You see, we can know this story and know some Bible answers about how much God loves us and just how forgiven we really are, but our minds like to keep quietly telling us that we’re worthless, that we don’t deserve it, and that God is actually mad at us. 

Here’s the simple truth, and the reason Jesus told this story in the first place: when you placed your faith in Jesus, then the punishment/judgment/anger for every single sin you have ever or would ever commit was placed on Jesus. His death on the cross paid the price for that in full, so that when God looks at you he doesn’t see any of it…he just sees his perfect son/daughter that he desperately wants back. And just like the father in this story, he rejoices and throws a huge party when we return (even if it’s the 100th time we’ve had to return from the same stupid mistake). And so, when you beat yourself up and think that God must be mad at you for whatever that thing is, he’s looking at you like “What thing? What are you talking about?!”

So, wherever you’re at in your faith journey today, I want you to read this parable and really let it sink in that this is how God responds to you when you turn to him. There isn’t a catch. He isn’t secretly mad. He just loves you and wants to be with you, and there is not anything you could have done that Jesus’ death on the cross didn’t absolutely take care of. So, take a deep breath, forgive yourself for those things, and just let your Father love you.