A Father’s Love
“ ‘For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”
Luke 15:24
A father gave his son his share of the estate. The son set off to a distant country and squandered the money. The son had to get a job feeding pigs to support himself. In the pig pen, the son began to think about his father. Ashamed, the son set back out once more to return to his father. The father saw the son well before he approached. The father ran to his son, hugged him, and kissed him. The son pleaded to his father that he had sinned and was no longer worthy. But the father commanded his servants to supply the son with the best robe, a ring, and sandals to celebrate the son’s return.
The son knew that if he went back he would have food and shelter. What we see is the compound effect of sin and shame. Sin and shame convinced the son that he was no longer worthy to go back. He was convinced he was no longer a son in his father’s house.
The father saw him from such a long distance, which hints that the father was looking down that path regularly. Our Heavenly Father is just like this father, always waiting for our return to Him.
There are three things this father does that our Heavenly Father does for you and me.
The Robe
There was a prayer shawl that men would wear during prayer and important events. The father is signaling significance when he tells his servants to bring his son the best robe. It was a statement that this man of the house honored God’s commandments. It also signified that the son faithfully and humbly walked God’s path. It’s clear that the son did not live a life in observance of God’s law and principles. Our Father is so good that when we rebel against God and are unworthy of the blessings of God, we are robed with righteousness. When God sees us He doesn't see our sin or our shame. He sees us as someone who keeps His law and is worthy of His favor. We are not the sum total of our sins and failure, but we are the sum total of who our Father says we are.
2. The Shoes
In ancient culture, items were often used to symbolize transactions. In order to recognize the son’s divestment from the father’s estate, he would have taken his shoes off and given his shoes to his father. When the father told the servant to get his son’s shoes, the father was saying that he would pay his portion to the son as if he never lost anything to begin with. In Christ Jesus, we have a promise. For everything the Devil has meant for evil, God can turn it around for good. God has given us redemption. God can restore everything that we have lost.
3. The Ring
A signet ring recognizes the ability to do business in the family name. The ring is circular and has no end, signifying the ability to do business without limit. The father was empowering the son to transact business again. God has empowered us supernaturally through His eternal covenant. The signet ring means that we can do business on behalf of the Father.
God has robed us and redeemed us. He has empowered us with the ability to do Kingdom business.
Prayer: Father, redeem and restore what we have lost. Thank you for entrusting us with your business, Father. Help us to continue on the path you’ve set out for us. Forgive us of our sins. If we stray from your path, we know that we will always be sons and daughters in your house, Father. Amen.