Devotional: The Father’s Medicinal Hugs
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 story of the Prodigal Son gives us a great picture of the Father’s love for his children.
The son had recognized his foolishness and returned to his father. While he was still far away, his father ran out to meet him, hugged him, and kissed him. The son must have smelled like the pig pen, but his father didn’t care. His son had come home!
That is exactly how your heavenly Father feels about you. He’s not looking at your report card! He just wants you to be happy in His house. He will provide what is needed to clean you up, suit you up, and get you walking the right way. You just need to bask in the warmth of his love and be healed and restored.
I believe the greatest medicine we can receive is the Father’s love. He will heal us of our brokenness and insecurity. His hugs are medicinal. His kisses are life-altering. His acceptance is all you need!
The Prodigal was just hoping to find a place in the corner of the bunkhouse to live out his days as a hired servant. But his father would have nothing to do with that idea. Instead of holding his sins against him, because of his great love, the father forgave everything and restored his son to every family privilege.
Are you experiencing the Father’s love today? I believe Satan is doing everything he can to keep you from knowing the Father’s overwhelming love and forgiveness. Satan’s deception is deeply rooted in the human race. But the truth is: God is good, and He has your best interest at heart.
Sometimes, as Christians, we are like the other character in the story, the older brother. We are working for the Father, trying to do what’s right, but not really enjoying the privilege of being God’s child. Our relationship with the Father has become like a job, and we have not realized the great love that He has for us.
The older brother was sour on life. He did not realize that everything that the Father owned belonged to him. When he saw his younger brother getting blessed, he was filled with jealousy and rage. His emotions were entirely improper because of his own insecurity.
It’s good to work for the Lord, but our service should be birthed out of love. We love God because He first loved us. We love others because God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Because we experience His love, we want to share that love with others, even though they may not deserve it. After all, we don’t deserve it either. But because of the cross, we have it all!
Jesus told us to continue in His love. When we love others, God’s supernatural love flows through us and we have joy. God’s love is available for us every day! Don’t let the Grinch steal the joy of life that comes from knowing the love of the Father. I encourage you to start singing about your Father’s love.
Pray a prayer like this from you heart:
Dear Father, Thank you for your love. Thank you for demonstrating your love by sending Jesus to die for me. I believe He rose from the dead. Because He lives, I will live also. I choose to follow Jesus as my Lord. Thank you for saving me and caring for me. Help me to accept your love and your medicinal hugs. Thank you for accepting me, just as I am. Help me to love others with your supernatural love, in Jesus’ name. Amen.