February 4
Verse of the Day for February 4
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.Luke 15:20 KJV
The Key of Love · Day 4 of 29
Reflection · 4 min read
A Great Way Off
The son has rehearsed a speech. He has it word for word — I am no more worthy to be called thy son, make me as one of thy hired servants — and it is a good speech, honest and appropriately ashamed.
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him.
Saw him first. Which means the father had been looking down that road, habitually, for long enough to recognise a silhouette at distance.
And then the father runs. In that culture an older man gathering his robes and running was undignified, and Jesus puts it in on purpose.
The son gets through about half his speech. The father interrupts him with instructions about a robe and a ring and shoes — not one of which the son asked for, all of which restore him as a son rather than hire him as a servant.
The speech was not wrong. It was simply answering a question the father had never been asking.
He had the speech ready.He never finished it.
Some of us have been rehearsing an apology for years and have never come up the road to deliver it.
He is already looking. He will interrupt you.
Carry this today
What speech have you been preparing instead of coming home?
Pray
Read Luke 15:17–24
17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Keep praying
Reflection by Collins Asein, from the daily devotionals in the PrayerKey app. Bible text: King James Version.