The Speech He Never Got to Finish
Jesus told a story about a younger son who asked for his inheritance early, which was basically a polite way of saying he wished his father were already gone. He took the money to a distant land and spent every cent of it. By the time he was feeding pigs and eyeing their food like it was a buffet, he finally came to his senses and started the long walk home, practicing his speech the whole way. He would admit he had sinned, say he didn’t deserve to be called a son anymore, and ask to be hired as a servant. His father, though, saw him while he was still a long way off and ran to him, which respectable men in that culture simply didn’t do, and he hugged and kissed his son before the boy could get halfway through his lines. If there’s one Bible verse about coming back to God worth holding onto, it’s this moment on a dusty road.
Maybe you haven’t been inside a church in years, or you stopped praying around the time life got loud, or you made a choice you still replay at 2 a.m. and figure God’s patience finally ran out. You might even have your own speech ready, the one where you list everything you did wrong and offer to sit quietly in the back row. Our Father isn’t standing at the end of the road with his arms crossed, waiting to see how sorry you look. He’s been watching for you this whole time, and the moment you turn toward home, he’ll be the one running.
MOMENT OF PRAYER
Father, I’ve been away longer than I like to admit, and some days I’m not even sure how I drifted this far. I’ve rehearsed my excuses and my apologies more times than I can count, half expecting you to meet me with a lecture instead of open arms. Thank you that your love doesn’t wait for me to get the words right, and that you saw me coming long before I ever saw you. Give me the courage to take the next step home today, and let me feel your arms around me when I do.
In Jesus’ beautiful name, Amen.
STAND FIRM TODAY
Today, take one real step back toward God instead of waiting until you feel ready. That could be praying out loud on your drive, reading Luke 15 before bed, or texting a friend to ask what time their church meets, and none of it needs to be polished. The father in this story started running before the speech was even finished, so you don’t need perfect words to get moving.
And if you’d like someone standing in prayer with you, share your request on our Prayer Wall.
Carry This With You
“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.” – Luke 15:20
