Talking about love of the Father, I thought of sharing this parable told by Jesus with you. which explains the unexplainable& illogical love He got towards us. Love, that loves you just the way you are.
Jesus said: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.
"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. Luke 11: 24
What are we seeing here?
A grown up son, who want to break free.
Jesus said: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.
"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. Luke 11: 24
What are we seeing here?
A grown up son, who want to break free.
What is the father doing?
He divided his possessions& gave him. Though he has a right to say "NO"
The son is off to a new place made friends& enjoyed every kind of pleasure.
When you are rich & successful everybody wants to be your friend. So there was no lack for friends. No lack for pleasure.
After sometime the money is finished. So the friends are gone. girl friends are gone. pleasures are gone. & the man is left alone.
There are so many songs written how great a thing this "friendship" is. & How a great a thing "love" is. But some of us know that very few friends stand by you when things fall apart. Very few love you when success& money deserts you.
This man was going exactly through the same lane. More than loosing all the money, loosing friends must have hurt Him. It's tough to digest, the girl who told you that you are her everything, doesn't even answer your call now. Who can explain? How & why & when they dessert you?Why they leave you behind? The same people who adore you would mock you now? laugh at you ?
You ask, they doesn't answer. You search, but can't find that love again. you knock, but the doors are closed for ever (No wonder the fast track ad says "move on").
He divided his possessions& gave him. Though he has a right to say "NO"
The son is off to a new place made friends& enjoyed every kind of pleasure.
When you are rich & successful everybody wants to be your friend. So there was no lack for friends. No lack for pleasure.
After sometime the money is finished. So the friends are gone. girl friends are gone. pleasures are gone. & the man is left alone.
There are so many songs written how great a thing this "friendship" is. & How a great a thing "love" is. But some of us know that very few friends stand by you when things fall apart. Very few love you when success& money deserts you.
This man was going exactly through the same lane. More than loosing all the money, loosing friends must have hurt Him. It's tough to digest, the girl who told you that you are her everything, doesn't even answer your call now. Who can explain? How & why & when they dessert you?Why they leave you behind? The same people who adore you would mock you now? laugh at you ?
You ask, they doesn't answer. You search, but can't find that love again. you knock, but the doors are closed for ever (No wonder the fast track ad says "move on").
Have you ever been there?
This guy is in the same lane. rejected by friends. desserts by loved ones. Nobody cares. Nobody to comfort.
What did he do?
He remembered. & he repented.
He remembered that there's one who doesn't reject him. & He ran to that one.
He wanted to say " father, let me be one of your servants". Was is it just food? or it was thirst for love? For a unchanging love.
love. what an abused word in this world. What not people do for love. Some get trapped for a life time & ruin their entire life just to have some body's love. Elders abusing kids in the name of love. Men killing the women just because they couldn't get their love. People who commit suicides being not able to digest rejection of love.
The world longs for Love. You can live without food. You can't live without Love. But how many of us really enjoy true love?
The son was walking towards his father's house. Trying to collect few words to say to get His love back.
What did he find instead? The Father running to him before he could even open his mouth & say sorry.
Father hugged him & kissed him. The son was mumbling something. The father in His joy doesn't even care. He is shouting"Get him new clothes, get him a ring & give him a new foot wear , prepare a feast & let the celebration begin!"
What is this parable all about?
The father's love for his lost son.
Who's the father?
This guy is in the same lane. rejected by friends. desserts by loved ones. Nobody cares. Nobody to comfort.
What did he do?
He remembered. & he repented.
He remembered that there's one who doesn't reject him. & He ran to that one.
He wanted to say " father, let me be one of your servants". Was is it just food? or it was thirst for love? For a unchanging love.
love. what an abused word in this world. What not people do for love. Some get trapped for a life time & ruin their entire life just to have some body's love. Elders abusing kids in the name of love. Men killing the women just because they couldn't get their love. People who commit suicides being not able to digest rejection of love.
The world longs for Love. You can live without food. You can't live without Love. But how many of us really enjoy true love?
The son was walking towards his father's house. Trying to collect few words to say to get His love back.
What did he find instead? The Father running to him before he could even open his mouth & say sorry.
Father hugged him & kissed him. The son was mumbling something. The father in His joy doesn't even care. He is shouting"Get him new clothes, get him a ring & give him a new foot wear , prepare a feast & let the celebration begin!"
What is this parable all about?
The father's love for his lost son.
Who's the father?
God the creator.
Who's the lost son?
you & I. Who disobeyed God by not acknowledging Him as our creator. Or worshipped the creation instead of the creator. Or set ourselves wrong idols like money, pleasure, love & gone astray.
What happened to the lost son?
He enjoyed every pleasure. Swanky cars& latest gadgets. Lovely girls& long drives. all night parties with loud music, dance & booze. He thought he found what he wanted. Life with no breaks & love with no limits.
But what happened one day?
The money was over. so was the party. welcome to reality.
you & I. Who disobeyed God by not acknowledging Him as our creator. Or worshipped the creation instead of the creator. Or set ourselves wrong idols like money, pleasure, love & gone astray.
What happened to the lost son?
He enjoyed every pleasure. Swanky cars& latest gadgets. Lovely girls& long drives. all night parties with loud music, dance & booze. He thought he found what he wanted. Life with no breaks & love with no limits.
But what happened one day?
The money was over. so was the party. welcome to reality.
Did you ever realise that love of this world comes with a price tag?
Money! Success!! Power!!!
You got it?You are loved.
You lost it? You are forgotten.
parents love you, If you do well in studies or career. (I don't know how many young boys& girls committed suicides fearing failures in their studies. Suffocated in this "black mailing love" of parents). Friends love you, if you are a somebody in the society. Girls love you, if you can afford to make them feel special ( & I don't know how many young women & men end their lives not being able to catch up with this "love that moves on!").
You successful, they are satisfied. You are a failure, they are disappointed.
conditional love. Give them what they want, they'll give you love which you want.
Did you ever wonder.... is there anyone in this world who loves you just the way you are?
Is there anyone in this world who loves you when you are still a failure?
Is there anyone in this world who loves you when you are a loser?
Is there any one in this world who loves you when you are poor?
Is there anyone in this world who loves you when you are still a sinner?
Is there anyone in this world who loves you when you are guilty?
Is there anyone in the world who can love you unconditionally?
No religion, no god. No prophet, no guru.
I haven't seen or read or heard any god talking about unconditional love. About loving a outcast. About comforting a broken heart. About forgiving & restoring a sinner.
JESUS!
what a contrast! In the midst of these colorful images of gods.
Throughout His ministry on the earth, He was found healing a leper. Or forgiving & transforming a prostitute. Or inspiring a tax collector to to give up corruption & start donation. Or restoring a rejected. He called the fisher men & changed them into fishers of men. He fed the hungry. He forgave the sinners. restored the broken hearted. He cleansed the unholy& called the dead back to life. He was a light to those who were in darkness. he was the living water to the thirsty. He was the comforter of the outcasts.
He said "And the one who comes to Me, I will by no means cast out." John 6:36
Why is He not like other Gods? Why His image is so colorless? When other gods talk about wars, women & romance, why He's always bothered about giving, loving & forgiving?
Father...please forgive me& take me as one of your servant" wanted to say the prodigal son.
"Son, welcome home, be my heir". said Father.
All day long I have held out my hands
to an obstinate people,
who walk in ways not good,
pursuing their own imaginations- Isaiah 65:2
Why is He not like other gods? Why does He care for what we do with our lives? Why is He doing this to us?
coz.. He is your maker. your Father.
He is loving you with the Love of a Father. He is compelled by love. Love that doesn't want to see you loosing. Love, that doesn't want to see you crying. Love,that doesn't want to see you dying on the highway to hell. Love,that doesn't want to see you hurting yourself in the search of momentary pleasures & temporary love.
Jesus said:
28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Mathew 11:28
This parable, told by Jesus 2000 years back, is still new. It's still fresh.
Throughout these 2000 years, throughout this world, these words of Jesus, soaked in true love, gave hope to many prodigal sons who were on the high way to hell. On the highway to self destruction.
The aroma of pure love these words carried...convicted many prodigal sons to repent , to return & start a new life all over.
friends, it's not a story. it's a promise. It's an invitation.
From the father, to his sons & daughters.
From the creator, to His creation. From the greatest ever lover, to all those who are looking for true love.
From the Friend who laid down His life, to all those burdened souls.
Today you can take a decision, to return to Him.
Why spend one more day feeling miserable? Why miss one more day without true love?
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