God is Kind

Psalm 104:13-14 NLT

“The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.”

The God of the Bible is kind. He is tenderhearted and understanding. He knows me more deeply than anyone else knows me, including myself. He is not against me. I can fully trust Him with my heart. 

When I rebel against my Heavenly Father or wander away from Him, what is the only sensible thing to do? There was once a son who wandered away from his father and lived a life of sin and foolishness. His decisions brought him to utter ruin. Then, at his low point, listen to what happens…

“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ (Luke 15:17-19)

The only sensible thing to do when I have wandered from God is to go back to Him. Trying to numb the pain won’t work. Trying to help myself won’t work. Turning to any other comfort won’t work. The only thing I can possibly do that will really help me is to go back to the One who loves me more than any other! And that is my Heavenly Father.

What keeps us from going back to our Father? I think too often, we confuse our Father with someone else. We think maybe He’s going to be cross-armed and angry if we come back to Him. How could He possibly accept us and welcome us back into His love after all we have done? We expect the Father to react like the older brother. 

In the above story of Luke 15, the prodigal son had an older brother. This brother had never left their father. Nevertheless, this older brother was not ready to joyfully receive his younger brother back into the home. He was angry and resentful when his younger brother came back home. Let me be absolutely clear: this is not God! This is not God’s heart! 

When the prodigal comes home, listen to the father’s reaction…

“Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’” (Luke 15:20-24)

The father was ready to welcome his son back with joy and open arms! In the same way, God will not turn away His children who come back to Him. The Lord is kind, compassionate, and merciful. When I have nothing left to stand on, I can fall on His grace! And I will receive a kindness like no other when I do!

All praise, all honor, all glory be to God forever in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth! Amen and amen!