The Father's Heart, Our God Reigns Ministries

Weekly Word of Faith Title

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The Father's Heart

"But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him."

(Luke 15:20)

How much love do you have for sinners?

That may sound like strange question, but it's one I want you to think about today. All too often, once we get saved and get our lives cleaned up a little bit, we lose our compassion for those who are still lost. We look at the drunk stumbling down the street or the guy at the office who lies to the boss and tells dirty jokes and turn up our spiritual noses.

What about those standing on a street corner with signs saying ,"I'm hungry", "I'll work for money", "I'm homeless", or something like that. When you see those do you give money or food to them or do you think something like, "I don't trust that. They're probably just trying to rip somebody off or get something for nothing." I wouldn't want to pass them up because it could very well have been someone Jesus placed there for us to give to; to show His love; to lead them to Him; show His love and mercy to them AND glorify our Lord. We can be assured that we will be blessed in return. How do I know? Because there is nothing more precious than winning a soul for God's Kingdom! How could that not bless us?

You may say, "But Janette, there are so many people out there just ripping others off. How can we know?" We can't, but what difference does it make? If they are ripping you off that's between them and God and if they aren't, then consider what you have done by giving. Consider how much you have blessed them and the love and compassion you have shown......in other words, you let Jesus shine through you.

If we ever truly understood the heart of our heavenly Father, we'd never turn from a lost and hurting soul again. Jesus told a story that can give us a glimpse of that heart. It's the story we call the prodigal son.

You've probably heard it many times, how the son rebelled and dishonored his father, and how the father, in spite of it all, received him home with joy when he repented. But there's on phrase in it I want to draw your attention to today. It's this one: "But when [the prodigal son] was yet a great way off, his father saw him."

That phrase gives such a moving glimpse of the heart of that loving father. It tells us that even before his boy had repented, even during those long days when he was up to his eyebrows in sin, that father was watching for him, longing for him to come home.

Every morning he scanned the horizon, hoping to see the silhouette of his returning son. And the last thing every night, he'd look again....straining his eyes in hope. His son was constantly on his mind, and his heart was always full of love for him. The kind of gut-wrenching love that, on the day his son came home, drove that father to run to him and kiss him.

That's the kind of heart our heavenly Father has for those who are lost. It's the kind of heart He had for you while you were still wandering in the world. It's the kind of heart that embraced you with open arms even when you were still covered with the grime of sin.

There's a whole world full of weary people out there who haven't yet found that embrace. They're more than just "sinners," they're our potential bothers and sisters....lost ones hurting ones, in desperate need of a loving heavenly Father. God forbid we should ever turn up our noses at them. May He help us instead to start bringing them home.

Reach out your heart and hand today. Show everyone the love Jesus has placed in your heart and give that love to others....show them your Father's heart.

This week's reading Scripture: John 8:1-11

Happy Mother's Day to all your mothers.....God bless each and every one of you!

5-09-04

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