You're My Boy

One of my favorite times of the day is when I'm holding one of my sons, and I say "You're my boy" and my son says "You're my Daddy." It's a little thing I do to make my sons feel secure and loved. I learned it from my Dad, who always had a way of making my brother and I feel loved, and that he would always be there for us.

But mostly, I just love when my sons call me their daddy. I love knowing that they love me, that they rely on me, and that they trust me. 

I can't help but believe that God feels the same about our relationship with him. As believers, he has made us his sons and daughters and there is nothing that can separate us from his love.

Nothing.

Now that I'm a parent, I not only believe that more fully but I feel it - I feel God's love for me in ways I never understood. I am a flawed, tainted and sinful human being - if I can love my sons this much, how much more can a perfect God love me? Infinitely more.

How would I feel if one of my sons ran away? How would I feel if they never called to me, or talked to me? How would I feel if they never wanted to be with me? What would I do?

Hell.

It would be hell. I would never stop looking for them. I would never stop calling for them. I would do anything to get their attention.

Anything.

And God, infinitely more loving than me, also does anything to get our attention. Maybe it's an accident. Maybe it's a job loss. Maybe it's our health. Maybe it's a DWI. Maybe it's the death of a loved one.

Anything.

He never stops looking. He never stops calling for us. He never stops.

Never.

Jesus actually called God his Daddy (Abba). I can't help but think he was showing us - modeling for us - the kind of relationship God desires to share with us.

He never stops looking. He never stops calling for us. He never stops.

You are his boy.

He is your Daddy.

I'll Meet You in the Field

No story has affected me as much as the Parable of the Lost Son, or as I like to call it, the Parable of the Running Father.

Most people who know me would say it makes sense that I like this parable, because I identify with the lost son. After all, I was the lost son. I was defiant, disrespectful, and I "squandered my father's wealth in wild living" just as it says in Luke 15:13.

What affects me the most isn't the instant forgiveness of the father, although that is pretty amazing. What affects me the most is what the father did after his son returned. He didn't just forgive the son, he "ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him."

After all the terrible things the son had done to the father - disowning him,  blowing his money, breaking his heart - way off in the distance the father saw his broken son walking home and ran to him with open arms.

What is even more amazing is in that time and place, it was unheard of for grown men to run. It was considered undignified. Nevertheless, the father couldn't help himself - he ran to his son to meet him where he was. The father couldn't even wait for his son to walk through the nearby field. He saw him, and ran to meet him in the field.

And that was before the son even apologized! Already in the loving embrace of the father's arms, the son said "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son."

And then it really got exciting. After the son expressed sorrow, the father said "Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and now is found."

This is our God. Do you think your hole is too deep to crawl out of? It's not. Do you think you need to clean up your life before God will take you back? You don't. Just turn around and walk home - He will meet you in the field.