Faith & The Father' Heart Series

One night a wife found her husband standing over their newborn baby’s crib. Silently she watched him. As he stood looking down at the sleeping infant, she saw on his face a mixture of emotions: disbelief, doubt, delight, amazement, enchantment, skepticism. He would stand back, shake his head and say, "Amazing," while smiling from ear to ear.

Touched by his unusual display and the deep emotions it aroused, her eyes glistened as she slipped her arms around him.

"A penny for your thoughts," she whispered in his ear.

"Isn’t it amazing!" he replied. "When you take the time and really look close, how can anyone make a crib like that for only $45.99!"

Faith & The Father’ Heart

John 5:19

“I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.“1

Luke 15:20-24 - “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21“And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23‘And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24‘for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’2

The Father Seeks – vs. 20

But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him

As the father watched for his son, so God the Father longs for us. His heart is turned toward us. We can have faith that no matter what we have done, God wants us.

The Father Receives – vs. 20

…and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him

When Scripture says that the father “embraced him and kissed him” it literally means that he kissed him repeatedly. The heart of love, welcome and acceptance here that the father shows demonstrates God’s love and acceptance to us.

Not only did the father take his son back, he welcomed him. There was no hesitation at all. There were no “I-told-you-so’s”. His response was instead “my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found”.

The Father Restores – vs. 22

“Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand”

The robe was a symbol of identity, prestige and honor.

The ring symbolized the son’s full return to partnership in the family business. The ring gave him the right to exercise authority in all commercial or legal matters, for it represented the full weight of whatever authority or power that the family’s name carried.3

The father, in this one action, was telling his son that he was completely and totally restored.

The Father Rejoices – vs. 22-24

“…and sandals on his feet…. for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

Zephaniah 3:17 - The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.4

John 14:12-14, 25, 26 - I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.5

Luke 11:9-13 - “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” 6