Thursday, October 19, 2017

October 19, 2017


God’s Great Mercy


“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.”  Titus 3:4

As he looked out from his home to the busy scene next door, he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.  After such a long period of quiet, almost too quiet, suddenly things were happening quickly.  Servants were moving back and forth, as if making preparations.  The father had left his home and made his way down the dirt path.  Looking off into the distance, he could catch a glimmer of a young man.  He looked frail and he was walking very slowly.

The neighbor could hear voices shouting out, ‘There he is!’  He peered to try and see what was happening.  He noticed the father’s oldest son working in the fields, completely ignoring what was taking place.  He then turned his attention back to the father.  His walk turned into a slow jog, then faster, as he made his way down the drive.  Who was he running to?

By now the neighbor couldn’t help himself and so went outside to watch.  As he looked on, he thought to himself, ‘Could it be?  Could it be the son has returned home?’  He had heard the story – everyone in town knew about the son who got his inheritance early and spent it.  The rumor was he had nothing left.  Such disgrace he had brought upon his family and especially his father.  No, it couldn’t be him.

The neighbor took a few steps and looked again, just in time to see the two figures meet in a loving embrace.  The servants were running now too.  Everyone except the oldest son was joining in.  A shadow of his former self, sure enough it was the younger son.  The father had welcomed him home with open arms.  The kindness and love of God had appeared and the younger son was saved, not because of what he had done, but because of God’s great mercy.

No comments:

Post a Comment