Originally written 3 March 2010:

Last week, I was reading through chapter 15 of Luke. The religious leaders were grumbling about how Jesus associated with sinners. He didn’t seem to care about keeping Himself clean by separating Himself from them. In fact, He even seemed to enjoy their company! (This wasn’t the first time they had accused Him: Luke 7:34) This was not how they expected a prophet to act. Jesus answers them by telling the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin, and the parable of the prodigal (or free-spending) son. In each of these parables, Jesus illustrates how heaven rejoices over the repentance of a sinner.

The parable of the prodigal son is a familiar story. While reading it this time, I was reminded of how patient God is. The father in the story was patient with his son. He didn’t force him to stay at home or refuse to give him his share of the inheritance, even though the son’s request was rather impertinent. Not long after the younger son had acquired his new wealth, he journeyed to a far country, where he squandered all of his money in “riotous living.” After that, a famine arose in that land, and he found himself destitute. He had hit the very bottom when he finally came to his senses. He decides to return to his father in humility, offering himself as a servant.

And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” And they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:20-24 ESV)

He had to have been away from home for quite some time, and yet his father spotted him while he was yet a long way off. His father had been watching and waiting for him for a long time. He rejoiced to see him coming. He welcomed his son home, and didn’t even let him get to the part where he would offer himself as a servant. There was no condemnation, only celebration.

An interesting difference between the three parables is that the sheep and the coin did nothing to be found. The shepherd and the woman diligently searched for them. On the other hand, the prodigal son humbly returned to his father, who was watching and waiting for him.

I am so thankful that God is patient with us. We may wander away from God, forgetting that in Him we found true peace, joy and contentment. God may choose to perceptibly pursue us, or He may seem to watch and wait for our repentance. When we do repent, He will receive us with joy as His precious children, with no condemnation. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf:

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1 ESV)