Well that crazy feeling happened again. The first time I had this feeling it was January 7, 2008 at 5:04 pm. On June 26, 2014 at 7:58 am it happened again. Those were the two most proud moments of my adult life. Now I love my wife, Stephanie. She is my best friend. But those two moments when I saw our two kids for the first time was tough to describe. The pride and love that I felt for them was and still is insurmountable. But then I think about the love of God for all of His Children in 1 John 3:1, "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him."
The parable of the prodigal son, found in Luke 15, shows God's unconditional love for His children. A man's younger son asked his father for his financial portion that would be left for him. Then he left home with that money never to return. About the time that his money was gone, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He knew that even his Fathers servants got to eat. So he decided, "I will go to my father and say, 'Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a servant." The father saw His Son approaching from a distance. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. It seems as though the Father was waiting for His Sons return.
Even as the son was making his confession, the father interrupted to instruct the servants to kill the fatted calf and prepare for a celebration. His son was lost and now is found. God demonstrated His love for us before we were Christians, through the sacrifice of the death of Jesus. God continues to love his children who leave Him. He eagerly awaits his return to the Christian family and fellowship. Even when you are disobedient, he continues to love you, waiting for you to respond to His love and forgiveness. Stephanie & I now have two kids, Laney & Tyler. I couldn't imagine ever losing them. But remember God loses some of His children everyday to unfaithfulness. How awesome is it to know that He is waiting to forgive and receive them when they return Home!
