What Kind Of Welcome.
Today I'm captured afresh by the image of the father of the Prodigal Son running to his son, throwing his arms around him and kissing him. What a welcome home! Yet I'm wondering if my heavenly Father feels this way whenever I come to Him? I know He welcomed me home like this initially when I first entrusted myself to him.
But I know I've "left home" on more than one occasion. I don't mean that I've gone all the way back to that "distant land" or "far country". Sometimes, my thoughts, attitudes and actions have wandered in that direction and I've had to confess and repent of that reality. Each time my Father has run to receive me and assure me of His grace in the midst of my failure.
But my question goes even further. What about those times when I come to my Father in daily prayer. I'm so used to thinking of Him as being busy with all His other children and running the universe that He probably has to make time for me. What if He is never too busy for me? What if, in fact, He comes running to receive me and embraces me? Knowing that such a welcome awaited me whenever and however often I came would certainly overcome any reluctance or unworthiness I might feel on my part.
I know the above raises some theological issues but I must confess that the idea of my Father greeting me with such passion and initiative whenever I come to Him resonates within my heart warmly.
