The Weekly Word: What does God see?

By Pastor Isaac Johnson, New Hope Lutheran Church, Charles City

I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

— Luke 15:18-20

This is probably one of Jesus’ most famous stories. Most people call it, “The Prodigal Son.” There is so much treasure in this parable, but today we’ll keep ourselves to one of the juicy bits. Do you know how this one goes?

A father had two sons. The younger one told his dad to give him his share of the inheritance. You know, that thing you’re supposed to get after your parents die? Yeah, he asked for it while his dad was still alive. Smooth move, buddy.

Anyway, he went to a far off country, and without FaceTime or wire transfers, this meant that he was cut off from everyone who loved him. The young man then “squandered his property on reckless living.” That’s how the Bible says “sex, drugs and alcohol.” Well our friend here has made some bad choices, and he’s broke, but it goes downhill from there!

There’s a famine, so he’s in need and starving to death. He gets a job feeding pigs (at least he’s trying, right?), and he is so hungry that he wants to eat the pig feed. Does his boss help him out? No can do! His boss feeds the pigs and leaves our young vagabond to starve. No one would help him.

It’s at this point when the young man snaps out of it. All the lights have gone out, but there’s still one light that won’t go out. His father loves him. Maybe he’ll take him back.

He’s got his speech ready; he’s going to admit how unworthy he is and ask to be a servant. He goes to his father.

Let’s switch perspectives and take a look at the father. How do you think he should feel about his son? I mean, imagine that you have a boy who insulted you, took your cash and wasted it all, only to come back a complete mess and begging for more.

We might expect him to be furious. But take a look at the text from Luke 15 above. What does the father feel when he looks at his boy? Rage and judgment? No! He feels compassion. He sees his boy hurting, so he hurts.

The father runs out and meets his son, embraces him and kisses him, and spares no expense in caring for him.

Haven’t you been in need before? Was it because of your own mistakes? Was it because no one was willing to love you? Have you ever felt stained by brokenness? At these times we can feel so down on ourselves. We might even feel like we aren’t worth it. But what does God see?

When God looks at you, he sees his boy, his girl. When he sees your heart that is broken with sorrow and repentance, he’ll pay any price to get you back, even if that means giving his own Son, Jesus, in exchange for your life.

I don’t know how you feel when you look in the mirror, but I know how God feels when he looks at you. You are precious.

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You are warmly invited to Sunday Services at 9 a.m. with Bible Study and Sunday School to follow.