~ Enduring Love ~

[Lani]

Read: Luke 15:11-32
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. 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.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

"Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13:8 (NIV)


My mom and dad were hard workers and took delight in sending my sister and me to college. But I wasted the opportunity. I did not want my parents to know, but the day came when truth was made known to them.

The reminded me of the Bible story about the prodigal son and his loving father. Luke 15:20 says that the prodigals father "ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." What makes this verse so amazing is that the father gave this unfailing love to the son who had earlier said to him, "Give me my share of the estate" - essentially "I wish you were dead." Daily the father watched for his son's return, and then he acted with unfailing love.

Unfailing love always looks for reconciliation. Enduring love quickly offers forgiveness and mercy, which lead to unity and wholeness. The father's enduring love resulted in restoration for the returning prodigal. The father said, "Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet," reinstating his son to a place of honor in the family.

My parents' love and support never failed as I reorganized my life. This is the love God has for each of us, everyday


Prayer: Thank you, God, for your enduring, unfailing love. Help us to be instruments of restoration for those who have wandered from you. Amen.

Prayer Focus of Day: Prodigals

Thought for the Day: We serve the God of forgiveness and Mercy

Story shared by: M. Smith (SC)
Source: Upper Room Daily Devotional 6/28/11

[Zemirah]

It is hard to imagine such a love as this ... first the love the earthly father showed in the illustration; his forgiveness and grace and love he extended to his son ...... and then to imagine the love of our Heavenly Father towards his children; hard to imagine and yet still true ..... amazingly undeniably true