The Forgiving Father

Father's Day Celebration

"The Forgiving Father"

Pastor Jerry

Luke 15:1-2, 11-24 (NLT)

 

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In Bill Cosby book, Fatherhood, he tells several humorous stories about Fathers. Well today is Father’s Day.  And did you know its not a religious holiday. However, it has long been observed that our children get their view of God from their fathers. The way a father treats his child, speaks to his child, disciplines his child plays a major role in the formation of that child’s understanding of God. Nevertheless, some stories of fatherhood experiences can’t be laughed at like the stories that Bill Cosby tell. Maybe for some people their feelings about God cannot get past their childhood experiences.  I pray that today…God will bring healing to such broken hearts. That’s why I want to speak just for a few moments with the time that remains this morning about the Love that God has for each of you on this Father’s Day. My comments are focused on the Scripture reading of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15.  I have preached many sermons on this parable but I have never preached this story from the vantage point of the father. This parable is aimed at those people who are particularly troubled, broken and who have gone astray and because of that are uncertain whether or not God could still love them. The prodigal asks for his share of inheritance money from his father and then goes off into a far country and squanders all of it. He finally ends up at a dead end. This boy’s sinfulness was so great that there was nothing left in him that could motivate the father to love him. If the father loves him, then it is only because that is the nature of the father. The boy has done nothing to deserve it at all. The son finally realizes the seriousness of his brokenness and decides to return home. It is interesting that there is no mention of him cleaning himself up first. The Parable of the Prodigal Son ends showing the Father running to greet him with open arms. And therein lies Jesus’ point. This is the story of how God loves you too. As I was preparing this message a Christian song that came out several months ago from Christian artist Matthew West kept playing over in my mind. The song is entitled “The God Who Stays.”  The message of the song is about God who never gives up on you when you go astray. The Parable of the Forgiving Father is the story of how God loves you. Let’s look at five great truths about God’s love on this Father’s Day from this parable: I.     First, this story for Father’s Day tells us that God’s love has no limits. If there was a breaking point where the father was pushed too far to love his son, certainly this young man found it. From the father’s perspective at least, there is no condemnation. He greets him instead with open arms. I don’t care what you may have done; you have not stretched beyond the limits of God’s love. His love knows no limit for you. II.    Secondly, this story for Father’s Day tells us that God’s love is a patient love. We do not know how long the prodigal was gone. Perhaps a long time! It was long enough for him to apparently go through a whole lot of money. He did everything wrong. Yet, we get the strong impression that the father never stopped looking down the road hoping, waiting, and longing for his return. A person cannot stray away so long from God or stay apart so long from God’s love that it is no longer offered. In the same way God’s desire is not revenge but relationship and restoration. He wants you to return. He longs for you to return. He is waiting for you to return. III.    Third, I think that this story for Father’s Day implies that God’s love is eager. Jesus made this clear when he said: When the father saw his son returning that He ran and embraced him and kissed him. He is so overwhelmed with joy. The Pharisees who were hearing this story sees God as the chastiser of sinners, not the lover of sinners.  Just like the father in the parable, he is eagerly anticipating and waiting for you to return. God’s love is not stingy; it is extravagant. IV.   Fourth, this story for Father’s Day implies that God’s focus is upon the sinner and not the sin. The son’s focus, like ours is oftentimes, was upon his sin, upon his own unworthiness. The focus of the father, however, is entirely different. He doesn’t shout at his son; instead, he shouts orders to his servants: “Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him. Bring a ring for his hand, and sandals for his feet. Kill the fatted calf. Let us drink and make merry.” His focus is on his son. But some might say, what about the son’s sin? I think we can rightly say that change had come to this young prodigal’s life. When you realize your mistakes, and you become men and women who seek God willingly, there is change. But the point here is that the father’s love at all times remains focused on the boy, not the sin. What you have done and how long you have done it is no longer a consideration. As far as we know, the father never even asked the boy how he wasted all that money or what he did that was so evil.  That doesn’t matter. What matters is that he wants to come back home.     V.    Finally – fifth, this story for Father’s Day implies that God’s love is a joyful love.   The father cheers and dances and throws a party singing: “For this my son was lost and now he is found. HE was dead and now he lives.” The father shouts thanksgiving to the Lord. It is hard for us to relate to that kind of joy from a Holy God. Joy is not the response that we have when someone has hurt us. That is what makes the father’s love so amazing.  Jesus said: “There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than 99 who simply think that they don’t need repentance.” I well imagine that it was very hard for those listening to Jesus to understand the love God has for his children who go astray …and for those listening to change their thinking about God’s attitude toward sinful people. But we can change out attitude by concentrating on these five facts from this Father’s Day story about Gods love. Do you understand this story? If we can learn from this Father’s Day story, then, why don’t you come home today? Our Heavenly Father is longing for you, loving you, waiting to run to you, and will be filled with joy when you come home.