23rd January 2021

Run!

“But while he was still a long 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.”
Luke 15:20b (NIV)

In the story of the prodigal son, a man lets his son go off into the world, giving him his inheritance and the freedom to do what he wants with it. What happens is that the son squanders all he has and ends up destitute and miserable. Upon realising that he would have a better life as his father’s servant, as the passage puts it ‘So he got up and went to his father.’ (verse 20a).

What I love about this story is that upon seeing him return, the father runs to his son. He runs! He is so relieved, so happy, so joyful to have his son come back to him – he runs!

Now what strikes me in this story is that the son does not run to the father, he gets up and goes. The father however – runs!

Our Father in heaven is calling us to Him, through his Son, Jesus Christ (John 14:6). In sending His Son Jesus, the Father was, as it were, running to meet us with open arms. What are we doing? Are we walking, or maybe we’re even dawdling? We should be running. Let’s run to our Father, arms open, not letting anything slow us down, by fixing our eyes on Jesus and on Him alone.

Prayer
Father, you pursue us powerfully with your love, and our prayer is that our response would be to run into your embrace. Please fill our hearts with an eagerness, an urgency – to be with you. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen

Study by Sinead Henderson

 

About the Writer:
Sinead Henderson attends the Northampton Congregation of Grace Communion International UK.

Local Congregation:
GCI Northampton
Ecton Village Hall
78A High Street
Ecton
NORTHAMPTON
NN6 0QB

Meeting Time:
Saturday 10:30am

Local Congregational Contact:
Gavin Henderson
Email: gavin.henderson@gracecom.church