Celebrate!Sample

Hearts of Love The parable of the lost son is one of the most moving stories in all of Scripture. It is a story of folly, repentance, compassion, and forgiveness. After reaching the depths of sin, the runaway son comes to his senses and remembers his father. There is only one thing to do—return home and beg forgiveness. In the meantime, the father’s love has not diminished. Daily he scans the horizon for his wayward son. And then one day it happens—his son appears in the distance. The father runs to him, and as the son begins to confess his sins, the father interrupts and calls for a celebration (Luke 15:24). The point is clear. This is the story of our return to our compassionate heavenly Father. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). It, too, is a promise for parents and their unbelieving children. In spite of their sin may we always have hearts of love, compassion, and forgiveness that allow them to return.