Everlasting Father: Good Father
1 John 4:8b-10 (emphasis added)
God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Luke 15:20-24
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Chorus of Good, Good Father by Chris Tomlin:
You’re a good, good Father, it’s who you are.
And I am loved by You, it’s who I am.
Questions for Reflection:
- I know very well that for some people the image of father is not a positive one. This is a sad reality of our broken world that we should never get used to. But the beautiful truth is that our Everlasting Father is always good and perfect; LOVE is his very nature. How can this truth invade and change your concept of Father?
- The word prodigal has a negative connotation to most of us. It actually means “one who spends money or resources in a recklessly extravagant way.” The prodigal son in Luke 19 spent foolishly. In contrast, the father in Luke 19 spent extravagantly out of his deep love for his son. With this in mind, how has the Father been “prodigal” to you?
- What are some specific ways that you can bring the love of your Good Father to the people who are nearest to you in the coming weeks?
