You Represent Your Father
"His heart went out to him." Luke 15:20 PHPS
When the father saw his prodigal son, "his heart went out to him." Jack Graham writes: "This isn't a father who can't wait to punish his sinful son... who has written him off as wasted and worthless. This is a loving, caring father who can't wait to embrace and welcome him. He runs down the road to meet him... What you see... is a picture of the Father's love for you... eager... excessive... approachable... abundant." Max Lucado adds: "The tale involves a wealthy father and a willful son [who]... takes his inheritance [to] Las Vegas and... wastes [it] on slot machines and call girls... Broke [and] too proud to go home, he gets a job sweeping... stables at the racetrack. When he finds himself... [eating]... their oats, he realizes enough is enough... Off he goes, rehearsing his repentance speech... But... 'When he was... a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion' [v. 20 NKJV]... We expect crossed arms... a furrowed brow... a guarded handshake... a stern lecture... Instead [the father said], 'Bring out the best robe... a ring... sandals... and... the fatted calf' [vv. 22-23 NKJV]." The ring symbolized delegated authority. The one who wore it carried on business in the name of the one who gave it. Would you have given this prodigal the power of attorney over your matters? Entrusted him with your credit card? When you came to God, you were given authority to conduct business in His name. When you speak truth, you're His ambassador (See 2 Corinthians 5:20). As you steward finances He gives, you're His business manager. When you proclaim forgiveness, you're His priest. He has given you the privilege to do for others what He does for you. Don't withhold encouragement or affirmation! Speak words that strengthen others. Why? Because you represent your Father!
This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word for You Today
When the father saw his prodigal son, "his heart went out to him." Jack Graham writes: "This isn't a father who can't wait to punish his sinful son... who has written him off as wasted and worthless. This is a loving, caring father who can't wait to embrace and welcome him. He runs down the road to meet him... What you see... is a picture of the Father's love for you... eager... excessive... approachable... abundant." Max Lucado adds: "The tale involves a wealthy father and a willful son [who]... takes his inheritance [to] Las Vegas and... wastes [it] on slot machines and call girls... Broke [and] too proud to go home, he gets a job sweeping... stables at the racetrack. When he finds himself... [eating]... their oats, he realizes enough is enough... Off he goes, rehearsing his repentance speech... But... 'When he was... a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion' [v. 20 NKJV]... We expect crossed arms... a furrowed brow... a guarded handshake... a stern lecture... Instead [the father said], 'Bring out the best robe... a ring... sandals... and... the fatted calf' [vv. 22-23 NKJV]." The ring symbolized delegated authority. The one who wore it carried on business in the name of the one who gave it. Would you have given this prodigal the power of attorney over your matters? Entrusted him with your credit card? When you came to God, you were given authority to conduct business in His name. When you speak truth, you're His ambassador (See 2 Corinthians 5:20). As you steward finances He gives, you're His business manager. When you proclaim forgiveness, you're His priest. He has given you the privilege to do for others what He does for you. Don't withhold encouragement or affirmation! Speak words that strengthen others. Why? Because you represent your Father!
This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word for You Today
Recent
Archive
2026
January
MAKE PRAYER YOUR FIRST PRIORITYBIBLE READING; THE KEY TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH (1)BIBLE READING; THE KEY TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH (2)BIBLE READING; THE KEY TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH (3)LIVING IN THE PROMISED LANDWHEN YOUR MATE STRUGGLES WITH INSECURITYKEEP PERSERVING AND REFUSE TO QUITSHOW YOUR APPRECIAITONCOUNT YOUR BLESSINGSTHE "DOWNSIDE" OF IMMORALITYHAVE YOU BEEN WRONGED? FORGIVE."KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON"BE SENSITIVE TO GOD'S PRESENCEA PRAYER FOR GOD-CONFIDENCELIVE FROM "GLORY TO GLORY"ABOUNDING GRACEPREVAILING PRAYERTHE FIRST BEATTITUDETHE SECOND BEATITUDETHE THIRD BEATITUDETHE FOURTH BEATITUDETHE FIFTH BEATITUDETHE SIXTH BEATITUDETHE SEVENTH BEATITUDETHE EIGHTH BEATITUDEBE CONTENTYOU ARE A STEWARDDEMONSTRATING GOD'S KINGDOM WHERE YOU LIVEAVOID COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERSHE'S LOOKING FOR LABORERSKNOWING AND ENJOYING YOUR INHERITANCE
February
HOW TO CONQUER YOUR JERICHO (1)HOW TO CONQUER YOUR JERICHO (2)HEALING FOR YOUR MINDHUMBLE YOURSELF, AND TRY TO MAKE IT RIGHTYOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCELIVE ON PURPOSE, FOR A PURPOSEHOW TO "RENEW" YOUR MINDFIGHT FOR YOUR MARRIAGETRUE REPENTANCE BRINGS RESTORATION"I HAVE SET THE LORD ALWAYS BEFORE ME"RESPONSIBILITY AND THE "ABILITY TO RESPOND"MEDIATE AND ASSIMILATECLICK THE SAVEBUTTONBE CONFIDENT OF GOD'S LOVE FOR YOUGOD FORGVES AND FORGETS (1)GOD FORGVES AND FORGETS (2)GOD FORGIVES AND FORGETS (3)
2025
January
"Forgiving each other ...as...God forgave you."EMBRACING UNCERTAINITY AND FOLLOWING GODBLESSING IS PROGRESSIVEIS GOD SHAKING YOU UP?PROBLEMS? DRAW CLOSER TO GODDON'T AVOID--ENGAGEYOU ARE COMMANDED TO LOVEJUST SOW THE SEEDSEE YOURSELF AS VALUABLE (1)SEE YOURSELF AS VALUABLE (2)PRAY ABOUT IT, THEN TAKE ACTIONTHE IMPORTANCE OF GOD'S WORDTHE LINK BETWEEN DISOBEDIENCE AND STRESSHAVE YOU TALKED TO GOD ABOUT IT?KNOW YOUR PURPOSE, KNOW YOUR PARTNERSHOW TO GET WHAT YOU WANTPARENTING, THE BIBLE WAYHOW TO BUILD YOUR SELF-ESTEEMSIGNS FOLLOW FAITHWORSHIP: GIVING YOURSELF TO GODCHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS, AND CHANGE YOUR LIFEFind Prayer PartnersHOW GOD SEES YOUBE GUIDED BY WISDOM, NOT IMPULSEHOW TO GIVEPAUSE AND REFLECTWHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (1)WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT MONEY (2)WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (3))WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (4)WHAT THE LORD TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (5)SEEKING GOD
February
Practice Saying No To YourselfThe Best Is Yet To ComeThe Grandfather's Mistake Became The Grandson's MiracleHow To Conquer The Fear Of FailingLet's Respect Our DifferencesPass It On To OthersThrow It DownYou Are Called To Be Salt And LightExpect To "Wrestle"Use Your Gifts In Ministry To OthersKeep Trusting GodFear Is The Enemy Of GrowthChange Your RoutineYou Are Not Beyond God's ReachDon't Look At Christians, Look At ChristHave A God PerspectiveGod Uses Damaged PeopleUnderstanding The Word "Imputed"Governed By Christ's Love For UsToday Expect God's Favor
Categories
no categories