God's Not Like That: Redeeming Inherited Beliefs and Finding the Father You Long ForSample

God's Not Like an Unforgiving Parent

The parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15 is familiar to most Christians. We like the story, but it’s important to understand that the first-century religious crowd would have been appalled by the father’s response. It wasn’t right. The son had broken the Law (working for a Gentile, handling religiously unclean animals, etc.), and a good Jewish father would have administered strict punishment. Instead, when the prodigal came home, the father “saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him” (verse 20 NASB).

To be honest, the father’s reaction doesn’t feel right. As a matter of fact, if you attended church with this father, it’s possible that you, too, might have chosen to remain outside the party with the older brother, for some very spiritual-sounding reasons. Me too. Whether it’s a father with his young children or an adult son like in the parable, grace is puzzling.

Grace doesn’t line up with how we view the world. In this story, Jesus was explaining why He spent time with sinners, misfits, and losers (Luke 15:1-2). People like us. The answer, in a word: grace. And grace is a fundamental quality that, by design, we should all learn at home.

What was the environment like at home for you? Was forgiveness offered, and were you welcomed back after making mistakes? Today, do you feel like God is always lurking in the shadows waiting to punish you for your latest blunder?

True grace at home is rare. However, rightly pictured, it is life-changing for everyone involved. Grace, understood and lived out, could be the key that unlocks the life your soul longs for. It frees you to perform at your best for all the right reasons. Because your significance and value are no longer at risk, you are at peace in the presence of God.

How do you think about the way God views you? Does God delight in you, or do you feel He is angry with you or embarrassed and frustrated by you?

This plan is presented to you by God’s Not Like That, by Bryan Clark. To learn more about this book, please click here.