"The Power Of Love"

11And He said, "A man had two sons.  12"The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me (A)the share of the estate that falls to me ' So he divided his (B)wealth between them.  13"And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.  14"Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.  15"So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.  16"And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.  17"But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;  19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men."'

20"So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and (C)embraced him and kissed him.  21"And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22"But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out (D)the best robe and put it on him, and (E)put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24for this son of mine was (F)dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate. Luke 15:11-24

Jesus subtly described the power of sacrificial love in His parable of the prodigal son. The father must have recognized that greed and wanderlust were gnawing at the young man—and that denying his request for an early inheritance would lead to bitterness. So, despite personal and financial sacrifice, he gave the son his share. Then, the father waited patiently while the prodigal learned his lesson.


No doubt that was a trying time—a good dad wants to protect his children from making mistakes! But a wise man also knows that people often must discover hard truths for themselves. Sometimes the most loving thing we can do is to get out of their way.


The prodigal son returned home dirty, contrite, and seeking a place in the servants’ quarters. What he received instead was the full force of his father’s love and instant restoration to his place as the master’s son. That is agape, and it is the kind of love that wins hearts and minds for the Lord.
 
Believers are promised that God’s love will reside in them (Eph. 3:19). But they often think that refers to a brotherly concern and affection for others (phileo). In fact, the Holy Spirit shows agape love in us—a commitment to another person’s satisfaction, security, and development. We have the same capacity for sacrificial love that Jesus showed at Calvary.
 
BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING TO ONE ANOTHER!!
 
DAWN