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Love Never Fails

 

 Luke 15:11-32

           The beautiful picture painted for us in the prodigal son is amazing to ponder. We often talk about the son and the father, the choices made, and the redemption found. But, have you ever thought about the love that never failed? The father never stopped loving his sons. Even when one went wayward, he still loved him and loved him dearly. I heard someone say to their child the other day, “Even if you make mistakes and do wrong, I still love you the same.” I know how it feels to think someone’s love may leave you. I know what it is like to worry that you will do enough wrong or the one wrong thing for their love to end. It makes for tear-filled nights and days filled with an aching heart. It causes things to be done, and a life lived out of fear. One day, I don’t remember when but I realized God is not that way.

God’s love never ends. You cannot do enough wrong for God to stop loving you. That doesn’t mean His punishments or the consequences of your sins are gone. It does mean He is the prodigals son’s father eagerly awaiting your return and doing everything He can to make the pathway possible, visible, easy, and smooth. We see Joseph show this same love when his brothers and family come to him in Egypt (Genesis 45:1-15). That is the love we see Christ exhibit on the cross when He asked for His persecutors to be forgiven (Luke 23:34a). God wants us to live a life not in fear of losing His love but in pure joy that we have it. That’s the kind of love God wants us to be filled with.


Steve Johnson

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