The Art of Forgiveness

The week has come to an end YES! It's FRIDAY as we take a moment to reflect on these words of wisdom just know that we are winding down to the end of April I almost can't believe it that we are going to be entering into the 5th month of the New Year which will be May BUT lets not get ahead of ourselves lets stay in the moment with Read: Luke 15:11–24 Bible in a Year: 2 Samuel 9–11; Luke 15:11–32 While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.—Luke 15:20 One afternoon I spent two hours at an art exhibit—The Father & His Two Sons: The Art of Forgiveness—in which all of the pieces were focused on Jesus’s parable of the prodigal son (see Luke 15:11-31). I found Edward Riojas’s painting The Prodigal Son especially powerful. The painting portrays the once wayward son returning home, wearing rags and walking with his head down. With a land of death behind him, he steps onto a pathway where his father is already running toward him. At the bottom of the painting are Jesus’s words, “But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion” (v. 20 kjv). I was deeply moved by realizing once more how God’s unchanging love has altered my life. When I walked away from Him, He didn’t turn His back, but kept looking, watching, and waiting. His love is undeserved yet unchanging; often ignored yet never withdrawn. We all are guilty, yet our heavenly Father reaches out to welcome us, just as the father in this story embraced his wayward son. “Let’s have a feast and celebrate,” the father told the servants. “For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (vv. 23-24). The Lord still rejoices over those who return to Him today—and that’s worth celebrating! —David C. McCasland Father, as we receive Your love and forgiveness, may we also extend it to others in Your name. God’s love for us is undeserved yet unchanging.