Luke 15:20

Mercy, compassion and love always await those returning to Abba Father – sans a rehearsed speech. Remember dear friends, it is not our words, it is our heart. David tells us in Psalm 139 that before a word is even on our tongues God knows it full well:

4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. Psalms 139:4 (NIV)

God not only knows our words and our actions but He is also a discerner of our hearts and of our thoughts and even of our motives behind all of our actions. This spurred David to state:

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Psalms 139:6 (NIV)

Concluding his powerful Psalm with the following request:

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:23-24 (NIV)

David full of confidence in God’s tender and loving response to the sinner returning was desirous of being totally vulnerable and laid open before the One to whom he must give an account. He wanted to possess nothing that would separate Him from fellowship with His loving Father. Oh, that we too would have that same knowledge and security and desire in approaching our Father. It would behoove us to remember that, like King David, we all live Coram Deo – before the face of God.

13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Heb 4:13 (NIV)

We must not become discouraged in this process of returning and go back to our “wallowing in the mud”. The Father searches the horizon for that tiny speck in the distance indicating the return of the prodigal – and then He comes running. To my limited knowledge, it is the only time in Scripture that we find God running. How precious that it is towards the returning wayward child. I am reminded of a few “comfort” verses in Scripture:

9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chron 16:9 (NIV)

18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalms 51:17 (NIV)

Indeed, He rose and ran to meet the returning rebel! I just read a wonderful quote which sheds a bit more light on our subject:

“...Jesus showed us what God really wants to cleanse and purify—our hearts. Christ’s transforming work on the cross helps us to break free from desires that hold us in bondage. As we submit to God, we become like Christ, no longer wanting to offend God. Out of gratitude we obey Him from the inside out.” Tremper Longman, Reading the Bible with Heart and Mind

Indeed, if our hearts are right our actions will follow. It is God’s desire to remove from our hearts any spiritual diseases and longs to heal us of our wounds. Of this C.H. Spurgeon writes:

“He who made man can restore man; He who was at first the Creator of our nature can new create it. If He be God, there can be no limit to His power. Come then with the blind eye of darkened understanding, come with the maimed hand of weak faith, the fever of an angry temper, or the ague of shivering despondency, come just as thou art, for He who is God can certainly restore thee of thy plague. None shall restrain the healing virtue which proceeds from Jesus our Lord.”

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; Psalms 103:8-13 (NIV)