Loving and Gracious God

This episode is based on Luke 15:11-24, usually called "The Parable of the Prodigal Son," though it is more so "The Parable of the Loving Father." I want to share with you some of the dimensions of the love of God the Father toward his children. I pray that you will be encouraged and motivated in your daily walk with the Lord.

Gospel in the Air is a podcast ministry of Cornerstone Christian Church. We are located in Maui, Hawaii, USA. Our number is (808) 463-8859. You can also visit our website at www.cornerstonemaui.org or you can send your email to danibanggo@gmail.com.

Transcript

Episode 17
A Loving and Gracious God
Text: Luke 15: 11-24
Dani Banggo © 2024

From the beautiful island of Maui, I want to greet you with a warm aloha! Welcome to “Gospel in the Air,” a short devotional program that will inspire and encourage your daily walk with Jesus.  May you be enlightened with new insights for living as the Holy Spirit reveals His passion for humankind to be saved, that is, that no one should perish but that all will come to repentance. But before we begin our devotion may we have a word of prayer. Let us pray.

Most gracious God, Heavenly Father, I bless your holy name. Thank you for this privilege of sharing the Gospel Message. May you touch lives and bring them to faith in Jesus Christ, your Son. I claim your “word that goes out from your mouth will not return to you empty but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it" (Isa.55: 11 NIV).  In Jesus name, Amen.

Our devotional reading for today is found in Luke 15: 11-24. And I will read to you the following verses: (Like 15: 11-24) 

11 Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons.
12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.
14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.
15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.
16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!
18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,
19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’
22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.
23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast,
24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began. 

Our devotional meditation is entitled: “A Loving and Gracious God.” 

Jesus is being criticized by the religious leaders for being identified with the sinners especially with the tax collectors and adulterers. He freely mingles with them by having meals together. Because of this they have been waiting for a chance to pin him down so they can be justified in arresting him or by stoning him to death (cf. MK.3: 1-6). So, one day they made a trap by inviting him at the house of a prominent Pharisee on a Sabbath day to see if he will heal on that occasion (Lk.14). But the Lord can read their minds and their thoughts. No one can hide anything from God, not even our motives can ever be concealed from him (Mt.9: 4; 1 Jn.3: 20). So, to correct their zealotry on the O.T. Law he told them about the Parable of the Merciful Father (Prodigal Son) whose love for his son is beyond words to describe. No amount of a dark past or wickedness of a repentant son or daughter can stop God from his love and mercy. Although he did not go from city to city to look for his lost son, the father was always there on his window waiting for him to return home. And then at last, when he finally returned, he ran toward him and widely embraced him back to his home and celebrated with him (Lk.15: 11-24). This is indeed a radical teaching something revolutionary to their understanding about their strict adherence on the law that defines their entire life since the time of Moses and the ancient prophets. In fact, breaking the Sabbath ordinance by any kind of work-related activity is punishable by death (Num.15: 32-35). But that was under the Old Testament. Now, under Christ’s dispensation, which is the New Testament there is now a change, a radical change, indeed! A paradigm shift to the right of the pendulum. And this thing the religious leaders cannot and will never accept. To them only death is the ultimate penalty for Christ breaking the law – death on the cross.

This parable talks about the dimension of God’s love, his immeasurable divine attributes that only a gracious and a loving Father could give to his child. Despite the immensity of his sin, he is forgiven, and a party celebration is being hoisted in his honor. How great and magnificent is the love of God toward his children who are willing to repent and recommit their lives to him: “…I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Lk.15: 10). 

Today I want to share with you some of the dimensions of the love of God, the Father toward his children. I pray that you will be encouraged and motivated in your daily walk with the Lord. 

Our heavenly Father is kind. He is charitable.[1] He cares by providing for those he loves[2] (Mt.6: 25, 30-33; 10: 30-31). His benevolence is not exclusive for the believers only, but it is also to the whole human race (Mt.5: 45). God is concerned for the whole humankind without regard whether the person is just or unjust. He treats us equally without respect to anyone by causing the sun to rise every morning and the rain to come on its season. The benevolence of God is described in Matthew 6: 30-33, which says:

30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

This attribute of God is no surprise among parents whose main concern is to provide for the needs of their families. Although we have different worldviews and practices about family life based on each culture, it is still a commonality among parents to provide the needs and welfare for their families. How much more if one commits his life to God by faith in his Son? The Bible says that a glorious reward of eternal life is waiting for those who believe in Jesus Christ (Jn.3: 16). 

God deals with his people not based on their merit or worthiness, or what they deserve, but simply according to their need; in other words, he deals with them based on his goodness and generosity. Our Father in heaven supplies us with undeserved favors.”[3] His graciousness is found in the Old and the New Testaments. In the Old Testament for example in Exodus 34: 6 it says, 6The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Also, in the New Testament in Titus 3: 4-7 this is how the apostle Paul describes God’s graciousness in his letter to Titus saying, 4 But— When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. (cf. Eph.1: 5-8; 2: 7-9; Titus 2: 11)3. 

This is how gracious our heavenly Father is. Despite our unworthiness He supplies us with undeserved favors. That is amazing because if God gave to all what we deserve, then none of us would be saved.

In the parable the father is portrayed as one who is filled with compassion for his son (Lk.15: 20). In other words, our Father in heaven precisely identifies himself as a Father to us, his children. He is not blind to our plight; he is not deaf to our cries and longings; and he is so much affected with our sufferings. It pains the heart of the Father to see any of his children being abused and maltreated because of their faith. It pains him when his child groans because of injustice and indifference because of the name of Christ. His heart breaks when his child cries out for mercy. In the Old Testament his mercy is being portrayed toward his children, the Israelites, who were oppressed and maltreated for centuries long from a hardened Pharaoh. This is what is being said in Exo.3: 7, “Then the LORD told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.” (cf. Deut. 5: 10; Ps. 57: 10; 86: 5; 103: 13). The same is true with our Lord during his earthly ministry. Jesus had in his heart a sense of compassion toward the people he met. We can read this In Mtt.9: 36. This is what it says, “36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

This is the heart of God. He is not what others thought him to be as God who ruthlessly punishes anyone who disobeys him. Jesus Christ is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being (Heb.1: 3a). Hence, knowing who Jesus is, especially when he was hung on the cross, will give us a view of who God is. Jesus never cursed those who nailed him on the cross but instead prayed for them. When Nicodemus went to him in the darkness of the night to inquire about the kingdom of God, Jesus never proposed a debate and argued with him about theology and hermeneutics, but instead lovingly and mercifully explained to him the way to salvation. When people who followed him on his earthly ministry were tired and hungry, he did send them away but was so concerned about their needs and graciously told them to sit down on the grass and fed them with loaves of bread and fish. And despite Peter’s ignominy of denial not only once but three times the Lord still forgave him and gave him a chance to reform. This is the love of God. His mercy is beyond measure. In Ps. 103:11, 12 this is what David wrote, “For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”

God retains his judgment and never ceases from offering salvation to everyone over long periods of time. 2 Pet.3: 5 says, “… our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved…” The apostle Peter even suggests that the great flood at the time of Noah was delayed for a long time to give an opportunity for the people to be saved (1 Pet.3: 20). The same is true about his second coming. It is delayed because of God’s patience. He does not wish “anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Pet.3: 9). 

This parable was intended for the religious leaders such as the Pharisees who separated themselves from sinners and outsiders. They thought they were righteous before God. And they looked highly of themselves. What an arrogance! But here is the Lord who kept pursuing them and never stopped loving them until they returned to God. This is a great lesson for every professing Christian and for the church to learn. This all about hypocrisy and self-righteousness that we derived from “pharisaical attitude.” In his book, “The Jesus I Never Knew,” Philip Yancey made a beautiful illustration of this uncharacteristic attitude among some Christians and churches. This is what he said:

"I recounted a story told me by a friend who works with the down-and-out in Chicago.  A prostitute came to him in wretched straits, homeless, her health failing, unable to buy food for her two-year-old daughter.  Her eyes awash with tears, she confessed that she had been renting out her daughter – two years old! – to men interested in kinky sex, in order to support her drug habit.  My friend could hardly bear hearing the sordid details of her story.  He sat in silence, not knowing what to say.  At last, he asked if she had ever thought of going to a church for help.  “I will never forget the look of pure astonishment that crossed her face,” he told me.  “Church!” she cried.  ‘Why would I ever go there?  They’d just make me feel even worse than I already do!”[4]    

The illustration above, although it is an isolated case, seems to have some truth in it as applied to this situation.  Unless we understand the nature and apply the mission of the church then there is no way we can convince the woman of her negative notion about the church. Beware that we might be acting like the Pharisees due to their spiritual arrogance! Instead, we should mirror the Lord as a loving parent, a father, who cares for his children. In Jesus’ time sinners and outcaste responded to him because God’s forgiveness was very appealing to them.  People followed him wherever he goes because they identified themselves with him and Jesus was relevant to them.  He was so compassionate with them that he healed and delivered them from their sickness, he never allowed them to go hungry but fed them with loaves of bread and fish, and he understood them and forgave them of their sins. As a loving parent, are you willing to embrace your wayward son (or daughter) and welcome them back into your home?

Any responsible parent does not want his child to starve but does his best to provide for his need. The Bible clearly states how children of righteous parents are indeed blessed. In Ps.37:25, King David testifies how God is ever faithful to righteous parents. It says, “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.” Indeed, this is what David testified regarding his experience with an ever-faithful God. Our heavenly Father always makes a way for them and their children to be blessed. And this promise has been proven time and time again for parents who have committed their lives to God. They are not forsaken or abandoned by a loving God but always provides for their need. 

God alone is our Father. He is a jealous God. He does not want us to have other Fathers who will rob him of our faith and dependence on Him. And the same kind of relationship will only be fulfilled with our trust and confidence in our Lord Jesus Christ who mediates us with our Father in Heaven. Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except through me.” In other words, without Jesus we don’t have access to the Father. Hence our dependence is only by faith in Jesus so that we can call God, “Abba, Father.” 

It is my prayer that you have been blessed today. Listen to this podcast, Gospel in the Air, and be encouraged in your daily walk with Jesus. Gospel in the Air is a podcast ministry of Cornerstone Christian Church. We are located in Maui, Hawaii, USA. Our number is (808) 463-8859. You can also visit our website at www.cornerstonemaui.org or you can send your email to danibanggo@gmail.com. This is your host, Brother Dani Marantan Banggo saying, keep punching the good fight of faith. Mahalo.

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[1]Google.com.
[2] Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology, 2nd Ed. (Baker Books: Grand Rapids, MI, 1988), p. 320.
[3]  Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology, 2nd Ed. (Baker Books: Grand Rapids, MI, 1988), p. 321.
[4] Philip Yancey, The Jesus I Never Knew (Manila, Philippines: OMF Literature, Inc., 1995), p. 147 – 148.