ABBA’S EXCITEMENT
Luke 15:18-20 shows Jesus telling the end of a parable: “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 a far 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.”
Believers often complain that ‘waiting on God’ takes too long. God is cool, calm, and composed up in heaven—when our worlds are falling apart on earth. It seems that we pray repeatedly asking God to act on our behalf. We wonder if anyone’s listening.
We can be assured that our heavenly Abba IS listening. Apostle Paul urges us to cry out to God, calling Him “Abba” in Romans 8:15. He hears every prayer we utter.
Is Abba ever in a hurry?
The reckless son in the opening Scripture must have felt restless, itching to escape his boring life before asking dad for his inheritance. He may just have been a kid who longed for excitement living life in the fast-lane.
His older brother watched, maybe wondering, What does he think he’s doing? Why does he want to leave Abba? Where does he think he’s going? Then he watched lil’ bro’ set out on a donkey loaded down to the max. We can only guess his thoughts. Were they, How long until he returns home with his tail between his legs?
Did he even hug him Good-bye?
It wasn’t long before both sons got their satisfaction.
Dad was excited!
This is where Jesus wants us to pay close attention. The younger son had his fun spending his entire inheritance. He ended up broke, tired, and hungry. Only then he decided to return home (as a broken son).
It’s only when we’re broken that God has our complete attention. This is (godly) character-building time. Abba runs to welcome us home. (See the lesson, linked below).
This dad shows our heavenly Father, or Abba, who also gets very excited when He sees one of His kids returning home sorry and repentant.
Take Home Nugget
The Bible never shows God in a hurry. But God’s Son Jesus sees the excitement in heaven when one of His siblings returns home!
That’s exactly why Jesus agreed to die in our place.
This is His parable. We can trust that Abba acts exactly the same way as this earthly father acted when seeing his son returning home!
Thank You, Abba, for welcoming me back home when I’m broke and broken. Amen.
Adapted from “When God Ran” by Joseph Prince. November 2, 2016. www.josephprince.org. South Carolina.
J.D. Griffith
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