““So 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.” (Luke 15:20, NASB95)

In 1985 Christian musicians Benny Hester wrote a song called “When God Ran.” The lyrics are amazing because they tell the story of how God, as a Father, loves His children. The inspiration for this song comes from this verse in Luke 15:20. Consider these lyrics:

Almighty God
The Great I Am
Immoveable Rock
Omnipotent, Powerful
Awesome Lord
Victorious Warrior
Commanding King of Kings
Mighty Conqueror

And the only time
The only time I ever saw Him run
Was when He ran to me
Took me in His arms, held my head to His chest
Said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice
He said “Son, do you know I still love you?”

It caught me by surprise when God ran

As in the account of the prodigal son, God is seen as being the Father who unconditionally loves His children. In God’s view, there is no such thing as disposable people or a lost cause. Even in our delinquency, God is always looking for our return. Imagine God the Almighty is always looking for a reunion with those who have sinned and fallen short.

Perhaps today, you feel like you let God down or have drifted away from God because of sin and rebellion. Perhaps today, you feel like you can never return to God. Perhaps Satan has filled your mind with the lie that God will never accept or forgive you back…

The first step of the prodigal is to turn toward God. When the prodigal makes that turn towards God, God runs to them. Today, make that turn to return and watch God run.

In His Service,
Pastor Cary

““You shall put the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of memorial for the sons of Israel, and Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders for a memorial.” (Exodus 28:12, NASB95