Luke 15: The Story of the Good Father...

There are so many Life Changing Truths contained in this short story told by Jesus. There was a man who had two sons! One son took His Father's Glory and went away into a far country. He detached himself from his source of Provision. He, like so many of us, probably believed that the success and prosperity that he had lived in was produced by his talents, his gifting, his abilities. However, it wasn't long before the Glory (Provision) of the Father began to fade from the young man. Much like the Glory that shone on the face of Moses, God's presence will leave a residual on a persons life but when we cut ourselves off from the presence of God we also detach ourselves from His Glory. The longer that the man was away from the Glory (Provision, for that is where the riches of God reside... in His Glory) the more broken and destitute he became. Finally, this rich young man found himself without anything at all. Realizing that he was unable to Produce enough Provision for himself he ATTACHED himself to another Source! Yet, this source could not release enough Provision into the man to sustain life... he was starving to death in the muck, mire and filth of the pig pen. It was then that he decided, motivated not be repentance but rather by need, to return home to his father in hopes of obtaining his needs. He went home because he was hungry.

When he reached the property of his father he was covered in filth from having been in the Pig Pen. He was dirty and his clothes were soiled. In fact, the story says that no man would even help him because he "wasn't good" ground. Yet, the Father saw him coming and ran to meet him. The father threw his arms around the man and loved him. He pulled him closed and kissed him time and time again even though he smelled horrible. The father wasn't put off with the way the boy looked or smelled. He didn't notice the tattered clothes or the tangled hair. All the Father could see was the Son!

So many times we can't see past the wrapping. People come in so many different packages. Some are white, some are black, some are old and some are young, some are well off and others have very little financially... but the value is not in the color of their skin or the size of their bank accounts... the value of a person is who they are on the inside! We must develop the ability to see past the battered exterior or the shiny fascade and begin to embrace people for who they really are!