And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

(Luke 15:20 NIV)

A father was scolding his young son for misbehaving when the boy defiantly decided he’d had enough. He grabbed some clothes, his teddy bear, and his piggy bank and declared, “I’m running away from home!”

Trying to reason with him, his father asked, “What if you get hungry?”  The boy answered, “Then I’ll come home and eat!”

“And what if you run out of money?”  “I’ll come home and get some!”

“And what if your clothes get dirty?”  “I’ll come home and let Mommy wash them!”

The dad shook his head and said, “This kid isn’t running away — he’s going off to college!”

That humorous story points us to a deeper truth — home is where we know we’re loved, cared for, and always welcome back.  Even when we try to pull away, we often find ourselves relying on the very comfort and security that home provides.

That’s exactly how our relationship with God works. We may go through times in our lives when we wander off or try to live life on our own terms.  But deep down, we know where to return when we’re feeling empty, tired, or lost.

Jesus tells a powerful story in Luke 15 about a son who really did leave home and hit rock bottom.  But the most beautiful moment in that story comes when the father sees his son coming back from far off — and runs to meet him.  There’s no guilt trip.  No lecture.  Just open arms and an overwhelming love.

Our God is like that.  He knows that we’ve messed up, but he’s always waiting to welcome us back.  So, if you ever feel like you’ve wandered a bit too far, remember this: God’s grace is bigger than your mistakes, and his door is always open. 

Like that little boy, we may think we’re proving something by trying to run. But the truth is, we need God for everything — and thankfully, he never turns us away.

Prayer: Father, thank you that no matter how far I go, you’re always ready to welcome me back. Help me to never forget that your love is constant and that your arms are always open.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Alan Smith
Reprinted with permission from Alan Smith’s Thought For the Day