Just so Great!

Everyone knows the story of the prodigal son.  Something that is so great about that story is that when the son “came to himself” (Luke 15:17), he didn’t “clean” himself up first before he went back to the father.  He returned filthy.  And when he returned, the Father saw him from a long way off.  This gives us the idea that the Father was regularly expecting the son to come back and that he was looking and longing for the son to return.  And when the Father saw the son…(the great part!) HE RAN.  HE RAN! He ran to him.  He embraced him, kissed him, and celebrated that he came back.  AND THE SON WAS FILTHY WHEN HE RETURNED.  It was the return and the Father’s provisions that cleaned the son.

(the obvious connection) – We don’t need to, nor should we, “clean” ourself up before we return to God.  He is the one who does it, through Christ.  Not only does He do it, He RUNS to you, embraces you and kisses you.  This is the picture the Bible paints for us when a sinner returns to or comes to Christ.

Don’t think you have to get rid of all the sin first to finally be able to come to Christ.  That is His job.  He just wants you.