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That's My Father

But while he was still a long way off,  Luke 11:20


"But while he was still a long way off,"  

 this phrase has been running through my head today.

 It's in the parable of the prodigal son.

 When the son decides to go home, 

 The father who has been longing for the day

 his son would return home,

 sees him coming down the road.

 He was dirty, hungry, and worn out

 from the life, he had been living.

 In the midst of this, is the phrase

 "But while he was still a long way off,"

 It paints a picture of love,

 of forgiveness,

 of mercy.

 The son had not arrived home.

 I get the picture of each of us

 when we start seeking Christ.

 Unworthy,

 stripped bare,

 showing the scars that this world has left on us.

 Limping dejectedly home

 knowing we deserve nothing.

 But I also see the Father not waiting till

 we are home and cleaned up

 relaxing in a chair to come to us.

 instead, he is so excited to see us 

 that he drops everything and comes

 running to meet us,

 putting his clothes on us

 not caring about where we had been

 only caring that we had come home.

 That's my father!









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