Friday, December 01, 2006

His father saw him

Luke 15:20 KJV
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
As soon as the son began his trip home the father began His trip toward the son. We can never get so far from God that He won't immediately and compassionately come get us from whatever state we have fallen into, if only we will see that our sin is our own.

Gill says, "his father saw him; he saw him when in the far country, spending his substance with harlots, and in riotous living; he saw him when among the swine and husks; he saw him when he came to himself, and all the motions and determinations of his heart; he saw him in his progress towards him, and looked upon him with an eye of love, pity, and compassion, ...."[1]

See God watching this one through the whole process of sin.
See God painfully grieving over each wicked choice the son makes but carefully avoiding the urge to help him too soon. Then
See the Lord as soon as the son turns toward his father racing to the young man's aide and throwing His arms around him.
What a gracious God we have.

And what grace it compels us to have in response.
No sin is so grievous that we ought not forgive
No offense is so terrible that we should not forget
No act is so heinous that we ought not express compassion

If only the sinner will come to himself and confess his sins. We can help the one back who begins the trip themselves.

[1] E-Sword 7.7.7, John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible, Dr. John Gill (1690-1771)

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