Luke 15:20
(Jesus said) “And he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him, and kissed him.”

The son here has finally come to the end of himself and decides to come to his father and admit his wrong. He intends to ask to be a lowly servant, no longer enjoying the status of a son.

The father sees him coming from a long way off, which indicates this father had been searching in the distance for any glimpse of his wayward, rebellious son. Seeing his son, he runs to welcome him home.

That word “run” here means to run exerting all effort as in a race course. This shows us the eagerness of the father to welcome his son home. He kisses his son again and again. Later, in the story we learn the father reinstates the son to full son ship—not a servant slave.

This is a picture of how God waits for us to turn from going our own way and come to Him, in sorrow for our sins. He ever searches the horizon in hopes to see our return.

Lord God, I’m sorry for walking my own way.
Cleanse me of my sinful ways.
Cause me to walk a right path before You.
Make me a true child of Yours.
Thank You for Your tender love that never lets go.

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