The Prodigal Son

THE PRODIGAL SON

LAKE ELSINORE SACRAMENT MEETING – BISHOPRIC SPEAKING

Bishop Wm. Calvin Hughes – December 27, 2009

________________________________________________________________

As a recent returned missionary (and married within about 45 days of returning), and just starting our family, I was sitting in Priesthood quorum meeting.  The wise teacher asked me, “Which of the two sons in the Parable of the Prodigal Son represented me most?” Perhaps you have considered that question as well. With little hesitation, and a little self-righteousness, I responded that I was definitely the ‘good son’. I had made few serious mistakes in my life, and pretty much done what I thought I had been asked to do. It was then that the teacher threw me a curve ball – he said, “We are ALL the Prodigal Son.” That was somewhat of a reality shock for me.

I’ve thought about it countless times. I’ve come to realize that it’s true. We have all been the Prodigal Son at some point in our lives. In fact, we have probably been the Prodigal Son many times. Think about it – at one time or another:

• We have all turned and run away from our Father.
• There have been multiple times when we have thought that we knew better, rejecting what we knew was right, and followed our own thinking.
• At some time or other, we’ve asked our Father for something that we haven’t yet earned or deserved, but expected it none-the-less.
• We have all squandered undeserved blessings – both material and spiritual – and were just too immature and unwise to know better.
• And we have all, at one time or another, returned home – back to the source of all that is good; back to the source of all love.
• And when we have returned home, we have experienced our Heavenly Father’s eagerness to forgive – His easiness to ‘take us back’.
• There was no consideration as to how foolish we had been; no lecture as to how much we have wasted; no hesitation about how undeserving we were to receive His kindness, His forgiveness, His love!

 We all do knucklehead things that we wish we didn’t do. In a moment of weakness, a moment of silliness, a time when we thought we knew better.  All of us have come short of where we should have been.  God knew that we would make judgment errors, and He provided a way for us to return back home anyway.

The parable of the Prodigal Son is a reality for many of us. In the journey of life, we soon realize there are no guarantees as faithful, God-fearing parents. No matter how hard we strive to teach our children about God and His Word, and no matter how often we pray for our children to discover Jesus Christ and His message of salvation, some decide to reject it all! Even in those families where God is loved, trusted and glorified, children sometimes rebel and run from their roots!  Even in those families where God is loved, trusted and glorified, sometimes spouses, parents and grandparents rebel and run and can also be ‘Prodigals’. 

Someone (Barclay) made two observations about this parable which are worthy to note. He said:

Ø  First, it should never have been called the “Parable of the Prodigal Son”, for the son is not the hero. And,

Ø  Second, it should be called the “Parable of the Loving Father”, for it tells us more about a Father's love than a son's sin.

Prodigal Son - A Story from the Old Testament

The story of the Prodigal Son has been around for thousands of years. In 2 Kings 18:5, we learn that Hezekiah trusted the Lord more than any other king of Judah. As such, it's logical to assume that his son, Manasseh, was brought up to love and trust the Lord. However, when Manasseh became king at the age of 12, he immediately turned against God and "did evil in the sight of the Lord" (2 Chronicles 33:2). Manasseh was truly wicked, committing all sorts of idolatry, sorcery and immorality, including the sacrifice of his own sons to pagan gods. But later, after Manasseh and the people of Judah had been taken in chains to Babylon, he finally turned back to the one true God that his father had taught him about. God heard Manasseh's cry and brought him back to Jerusalem. After years of rebellion, God was still loving and merciful to Manasseh, when he finally turned to God and made God a priority in his life.

It’s interesting that THE WORD ‘PRODIGAL’ IS NOT USED IN THE SCRIPTURES – JUST IN THE CHAPTER HEADING – that’s a good one to make a mental note of and use the next time you play Celestial Pursuit!

Prodigal Son - A Story from the New Testament

The Parable of the Prodigal Son in the Gospel of Luke is familiar to most of us. It's the story of a rebellious son who rejects his father's upbringing. Prideful and strong, the son heads-off to a far-away land, leads a wild life of adventure, and squanders everything of value (literally and symbolically –materially and spiritually). Not until he's confronted with failure and despair, does he return home, repentant and willing to do anything to win back his father's favor. To his surprise, and the surprise of others, he's welcomed, without question, into his father's loving and forgiving arms. No amount of time, no amount of money, and no amount of rebellion could get in the way of the father's patience and unconditional love for his son. "For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found" (Luke 15:24). Of course, the awesome message of this parable is that God is patient and gracious with all of His children. He is willing to welcome each of us home  at any time into His loving and forgiving arms.

Prodigal Son - Trust God and His Promise

The road to God for each Prodigal Son is different. However, as the two stories from the Old and New Testaments tell us, we should never give up on anyone - no matter how far away they seem! God NEVER gives up on any of His children! Remember His promise to those who raise children: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). I have often thought that the ‘child’ in this promise was not only applying to the young of age, but also to those of us that are spiritually young – late bloomers in spiritual maturity. And that could apply to some that may be 95 years old!

The purpose of the parable is to give all of God’s children hope. It is a message of patience, perseverance and prayer. The Savior tells it as follows:

  11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

  12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

  13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

  14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

  15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

  16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

  17 And 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!

  18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

  19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

  20 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.

  21 And 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.

  22 But 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:

  23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

  24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

  25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

  26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

  27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

  28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

  29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

  30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

  31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

  32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found (Luke 15:11-32).

Many people feel that the parable of the prodigal son is the priceless pearl of Jesus’ parables. It is his finest parable. It is the most valuable story he ever created. Charles Dickens, the great English author, has called it “the greatest story ever told.” Some say it is the finest short story in literature. Another poet, Robert Bridges, has judged it as a “flawless piece of art.” Small wonder that through the centuries, this story has inspired the pen of Rembrandt, the music of DeBussey, and the poetry of John Masefield. George Buttrick, one of the greatest preachers of recent past, has said that the story of the prodigal son captures “the essence of the Christian faith.” This story sums the central message of the whole New Testament. It is the gospel in a nutshell. If you truly understand this story… of the father, the prodigal, and the older brother, you will begin to grasp the central thrust of Jesus and the main emphasis of the New Testament.

I love what happens in verse 20 – in fact want to focus the remainder of my remarks on THREE WORDS in that verse.  There are multiple ways to study scriptures, but sometimes I love to take a word or two and think on it for a while.  I have been thinking about the three words: “And kissed him.”

There was a sermon from London, England delivered on the Anniversary of today, December 27, 1891 – 118 years ago TODAY!

Delivered by C. H. SPURGEON, At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, LONDON, ENGLAND

"And Kissed Him." (Luke 15:20)

If we had an 1890 Revised Version of the King James Bible, in the margin, referencing the words from the Parable: “And kissed him”, we would find that the text there reads, "And kissed him much." It is my understanding that this is a very good translation of the Greek, which might bear the meaning, "Kissed him earnestly," or "Kissed him eagerly," or "Kissed him often." I like that marginal reading of the Revised Version, "Kissed him much," as it speaks volumes about the overflowing love of God toward the returning sinner.

The first word "and" links the story to all that had gone before. Even though the parable is a very familiar one, it is full of sacred meaning and always has some fresh lessons for us. Let us, then, consider what had gone before the Father’s kissing his Son. On the son's side there was something, and on the father's side much more. Before the prodigal son received these kisses of love, he had said to himself in the far country, "I will arise and go to my father." He had, however, done more than that, else his father's kiss would never have been upon his cheek. The resolve had become a deed: "He arose, and came to his father." A bushel full of resolutions is of small value; a single grain of practice is worth much more. The determination to return home is good; but it is when the wandering boy begins the business of really carrying out the good resolve, that is when he draws near the blessing. If any of you have long been saying, "I will repent; I will turn to God"; it would be well to leave off resolving, and come to be determined to practicing!  For that is when the blessings will come.

Before the kisses of love were given, the young man was on his way to his father; but he would not have reached him unless his father had come the major part of the way. When we give God and inch, He will give us much more. If we come a little way to Him, when we are "yet a great way off" He will run to meet us. I do not know that the prodigal saw his father, but his father certainly saw him. The eyes of mercy are quicker than the eyes of repentance. Even the eyes of our faith are dim compared with the eye of God's love. He sees a sinner long before a sinner sees Him.

I do not suppose that the prodigal traveled very fast. I should imagine that he came very slowly— "With heavy heart and downcast eye, with many a sob and many a sigh."

He was resolved to come, yet I’m sure he was half afraid. But we read that his father ran. Slow are the steps of repentance, but swift are the feet of forgiveness. God can run where we scarcely limp, and if we are limping towards Him, He will run towards us. These kisses were given in a hurry; the story is narrated in a way that almost makes us realize that such was the case: there is a sense of haste in the very wording of it. His father "ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him"—kissed him eagerly. He did not delay a moment; for though he was out of breath, he was not out of love. "He fell on his neck, and kissed him much." There stood his son ready to confess his sin; therefore did his father kiss him all the more. The more willing we are to own our sin, the more willing is God to forgive us. When we make a clean breast of it, God will soon make a clear record of it. He will wipe out the sin that we willingly acknowledge and humbly confess before Him. He that was willing to use his lips for confession, found that his father was willing to use his lips for kissing him.

See the contrast. There is the son, scarcely daring to think of embracing his father, yet his father has scarcely seen him before he has fallen on his neck. The condescension of God towards penitent sinners is very great. He seems to stoop from His throne of glory to fall upon the neck of a repentant sinner. God on the neck of a sinner! What a wonderful picture! If you cannot imagine it, I hope that you will try to. It applies to us all; and I hope that we can all realize the individual applicability and wonderfulness of it. When God's arm is about our neck, and His lips are on our cheek, “kissing us much,” it is then that we will understand more than sermons or books can ever tell us of His love.

The father "saw" his son. There is a great deal in that word, "saw." He saw who it was; saw where he had come from; saw the swineherd's clothes; saw the filth upon his hands and feet; saw his rags; saw his penitent look; saw what he had been; and saw what he was; and even more important – the father saw what his son would soon be. "His father saw him." Well, God has a way of seeing men and women that you and I cannot understand. He sees right through us at a glance, as if we were made of glass; He sees all our past, present and future. He sees what we have been, but more important, He sees what we can become.

It says: "When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him." It was not with cold eyes that the father looked on his returning son. Love leaped into the father’s eyes, and as he beheld his son; he "had compassion on him"; that is, he felt for him. There was no anger in his heart toward his son; he had nothing but love and longing for his boy, who had got himself into such a sorry quandary. It was true that it was all his own fault, but that did not come into his father's mind. It was the state that he was in, his poverty, his degradation, that pale face was so want with hunger, that touched his father to the quick. In the same fashion God has compassion on the woes and miseries of us all. We may have brought our troubles on ourselves, and we have indeed done so; but nevertheless God has compassion upon us. It is from the Father of Charity that we learn that “Charity never faileth!"

We read that the father "ran." The compassion of God is followed by swift movements. He is slow to anger, but He is quick to bless. He does not take any time to consider how He shall show His love to penitent prodigals; that was all done long ago in an eternal covenant. He has no need to prepare for their return to Him; that was done in the counsels of heaven. God comes flying in the greatness of His compassion to help every poor and lost and penitent soul.

And when the Father comes, He comes to kiss. One theologist said that, if we had read that the father had kicked his prodigal son, we might not have been very much astonished. Well, once we learned that the father in the parable represented God, we certainly wouldn’t have thought that some punishment or a good tongue lashing were remotely possible. But still, this son was deserving of all the rough treatment that some heartless men might have given; and had the story been that of a selfish human father only, it might have been written that "as he was coming near, his father ran at him, and kicked him." There are such fathers in the world, who seem as if they cannot forgive. If he had kicked him, it would have been no more than he had deserved. But no, what is written in the parable as told by God’s Son stands true for all time, and for every sinner,—"He fell on his neck, and kissed him"; He kissed him eagerly, He kissed him much.

What does this “much kissing” mean? To me, it signifies that when sinners come to God, He gives them a loving reception, and a hearty welcome. I testify that is true!

          I. First, this much kissing means MUCH LOVE. It means much love truly felt; for God never gives an expression of love without an infinite, sincere feeling behind it. Oh, how God loves the sinner! All of us who repent, and come to Him, will discover how greatly He loves. In fact, someone once said that the reason for sin in the world is to allow us to discover just how much God loves us. There is no measuring the love He bears towards us. He has loved us before the foundation of the world, and He will love us when time shall be no more. The immeasurable love of God to sinners who come and cast themselves upon His mercy!

When his father kissed him much, the poor prodigal knew, maybe as never before, that his father loved him. He had no doubt about it; he had a clear perception of it. So may it be with us also, if we will but return to God through Christ. It shall be said of you as of this prodigal, "The father saw him, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him in much love."

II. Secondly, this “much kissing” meant MUCH FORGIVENESS. The prodigal had many sins to confess; but before he came to explain the details of them, his father had forgiven him. I love that the Atonement was made BEFORE OUR sin – that the price has already been paid.  What a remarkable thing that is.  What an absolute blessing in the greatest sense of the word. In many more ways than we can conceive, we have been and are forgiven, even before our transgressions happen. 

The picture of this prodigal is marvelously true to OUR experience when we return to God after being away, perhaps traveling to our Babylon – either physically or spiritually. His father kissed him with the kiss of forgiveness; and yet, after that, the young man went on to say, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son." Likewise, we should have no hesitation to acknowledge our sin to God. Our Father in Heaven will love us – He loves us with affectionate forgiveness.

As the father looked upon him, and kissed him much, there probably came another kiss, which seemed to say, "There is no soreness left: I have not only forgiven, but I have forgotten the past too. It is all gone, clean gone. I will never accuse you of it any more. I will never love you any less. I will never treat you as though you were an unworthy and untrustworthy person." Probably at that there came another kiss; for do not forget that his father forgave him "and kissed him much," to show that his sin was completely forgiven.

There stood the prodigal, overwhelmed by his father's goodness, yet remembering his past life. As he looked on himself, and thought, "I have these old rags on still, and I have just come from feeding the swine," I can imagine that his father would give him another kiss, as much as to say, "My boy, I do not recollect the past; I am so glad to see you that I do not see any filth on you, or any rags on you either. I am so delighted to have you with me once more that, you are so precious to me." This is the gracious and glorious way in which God treats those who return to Him. As for their sin, He has put it away so that He will not remember it. He forgives like a God – a Perfect God.  

Some here might wonder, "Can such a wonderful exchange ever take place with me?" I know, without the slightest doubt, it may be experienced by every man and every woman who is willing to return to God. I pray that you may feel the spirit of it, by the power of the Holy Ghost, that each of us may be able to say, "I understand it now; I see how He kisses all my sin away; and when it rises again, He kisses it away again; and when I think of it with shame, He gives me another kiss; and when I blush all over at the remembrance of my evil deeds, he kisses me again and again, to assure me that I can be fully and freely forgiven." Thus the many kisses from the prodigal's father combined to make his wayward son feel that his sin was indeed all gone. The father’s kisses revealed much love and much forgiveness.

III. These repeated kisses also meant FULL (or MUCH) RESTORATION. The prodigal was going to say to his father, "Make me as one of thy hired servants." In the far country he’d resolved to make that request, but his father with a kiss, stopped him. By that kiss, his sonship was owned; by it the father said to the wretched wanderer, "You are my son." He gave him such a kiss as he would only give to his own son. I wonder how many here have ever given such a kiss to anyone. There are some here who know something of such kisses as the prodigal received.

There was one girl. This father's girl that had went astray, and, after years of sin, she came back worn out, to die at home. He received her, found her penitent, and gladly welcomed her to his house. She knew something about such kisses! We can all comprehend that this overwhelming greeting was like the Prodigal’s father saying, "My boy, you are my son. Despite all that you have done, you belong to me; however far you have gone in vice and folly, I own you. You are bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh." In this parable Christ would have us know, that God the Father owns us – and if we come to Him confessing our sin, He will gladly receive us.

Amazing still, the Prodigal had all of his privileges restored. He was joined with the other children when he returned. As we see him now in his father's house, where he was received with many kisses - he wears a son's robe, the family ring is on his finger, and the shoes of the home are on his feet. He eats no longer swine's food, but of the family bread. Even thus shall it be with us as we repent and turn to God. Though we may look so foul and so unworthy; and though we smell so strongly of the hogs among which we have been living that some people's nostrils would turn up at us, our Father will not notice of these and the foul business we’ve been about in a foreign land. See how this father treats his boy. He kisses him, and kisses him again, because he knows his own child, and, recognizing him as his child, and feeling his fatherly heart yearning over him, he gives him kiss after kiss. He kisses him much, to make him know that his son has his privileges fully restored.

In this repeated kissing we can infer then, these things: much love, much forgiveness, and full/much restoration.

IV. But these many kisses meant even more. They revealed his father's MUCH JOY. The father's heart is overflowing with gladness, and he cannot restrain his delight. I think he must have shown his joy by a repeated look. I will tell you the way I think the father behaved towards his son who had been dead, but was alive again, who had been lost, but was found. Let me try to describe the scene. The father has kissed the son, and he bids him sit down; then he comes in front of him, and looks at him, and feels so happy that he says, "I must give you another kiss," then he walks away a minute; but he is back again before long, saying to himself, "Oh, I must give him another kiss!" He gives him another, for he is so happy. His heart beats fast; he feels very joyful; the old man would like the music to strike up; he wants to be dancing; but meanwhile he satisfies himself by a repeated look at his long-lost child. Oh, I believe that God looks at us in our short-comings similarly, and He looks at us again, and keeps on looking at us, all the while delighting in the very sight of us, when we are truly repentant, and come back to Him.

The repeated kiss meant, also, a repeated blessing, for every time he put his arms round him, and kissed him, he kept saying, "Bless you; oh, bless you, my boy!" He felt that his son had brought a blessing to him by coming back, and he invoked fresh blessings upon his head. For all sinners, if we but could know how God would welcome us, and how He would look at us, and how He would bless us, surely we would at once repent, and come into His arms and into His heart, and find ourselves happy in His love.

V. There is even a fifth meaning in “the Father’s kissing” - we find that these many kisses can mean MUCH COMFORT. This poor young man, in his hunger, faint, and wretched state, having come a very long way, had not much heart left in him. His hunger had taken all the energy out of him, and he was so conscious of his guilt that he had hardly the courage to face his father; so his father gives him a kiss, as much as to say, "Come, boy, do not be cast down; I love you."

But then, perhaps, the young man looked down on his foul garments, and said, "The present, my father, the present (meaning ‘present day’), what a dreadful state I am in!" And with another kiss would come the answer, "Never mind the present, my boy. I am content to have thee as thou art. I love thee." This, too, is God's word to us. In spite of all our vileness, we can be pure and spotless in Christ.

"Oh, but," the boy might have said, "the future, my father, the future! What would you think if I should ever go astray again?" Then would come another kiss, and his father would say, "I will see to the future, my boy; I will make our home so bright for you that you will never want to go away again." But God does more than that for us when we return to Him. He not only surrounds us with His love, but He says concerning us, "They shall be My people, and I will be their God: and I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear Me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: and I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good" (Jeremiah 32:38-39)

Whatever there was to trouble the son, the father gave him a kiss to set it all right; and, in like manner, our God has love for us for every time of doubt and dismay which may come to His reconciled sons and daughters. His love is ready at any moment for us.

The father of the prodigal kissed his son much, and thus made him feel happy there and then. Nothing puts the penitent so much at rest as the Lord's repeated assurance of His unchanging love. Such a one the Lord has often received, "and kissed him much," that He might fetch him up even from the horrible pit, and set his feet upon a rock, and establish his goings.

VI. And now for our sixth insight for these many kisses had many meanings: MUCH love, MUCH forgiveness, MUCH restoration, MUCH joy, and MUCH comfort were in them – and also MUCH ASSURANCE.

The father kissed his son much to make him quite certain that it was all real. The prodigal, in receiving these many kisses, might say to himself, "All this love must be true, for a little while ago I heard the hogs grunt, and now I hear nothing but the kisses from my dear father's lips." So his father gave him another kiss, for there was no way of convincing him that the first was real like repeating it; and if there lingered any doubt about the second, the father gave him yet a third. These repeated kisses left no room for doubt. The father renewed the tokens of his love that his son might be fully assured of the reality of that love.

He did it that in the future it might never be questioned. Some of us were brought so low before we were converted, that God gave us an excess of joy when we joined the Church. He did that for us, that we might never forget it. Sometimes the devil says to me, "You are no child of God." I have long ago given up answering him, for I found that it is a waste of time to argue with such a crafty old liar as he is; he knows too much for me. But if I must answer him, I say, "Why, I remember when I was converted! I can never forget the feeling of God’s love in my heart, encircling me in the arms of His love. I cannot forget it." That is an argument which even the devil cannot answer, for he cannot produce one ounce of true JOY.  He is incapable of duplicating the JOY that comes from the True LOVE OF THE SAVIOR! On the occasions where I have experienced God’s love, it is true that I can now equate it as if The Father kissed me much.

The father in the parable put the assurance of this poor returning prodigal beyond all doubt. If the first kisses were given privately, when only the father and son were present, it is quite certain that, afterwards, he kissed him before men,where others could see him. He kissed him much in the presence of the household, that they also might not be calling in question that he was his father's child. It was a pity that the elder brother was not there also. You see he was away in the field. He was much more interested in the crops than in the reception of his brother. If he lived now, he would probably not come to the church-meetings; he would be too busy. So he would not get to know about the reception of penitent sinners. But the father, when he received that son of his, intended all to know, once and for all, that this was indeed his child.

If we get our Father's many kisses, we will not mind our ‘brothers/sisters’ being a little hard upon us at times. Occasionally, I hear of one, who wishes to participate with our Ward, saying, "I came to see the elders, and one of them was rather rough with me. I shall never come again." Oh, if he had felt his Father’s kisses, he would have a more softened heart.  Never mind the grouchy members; get another kiss from your Father. Perhaps the reason it is written, "He kissed him much," was because the Lord knows of our fragileness when ‘elder brothers’ are critical and we would be shamed into not joining in the feast.

It has become more and more true to me that we are all indeed the ‘Prodigal Son’. That we all have made similar and foolish errors in actions and in judgment. I have also realized that the way in which I would want to be greeted in my repentance efforts, is exactly as the Father of the Prodigal did. Loving, and accepting, and grateful for my return. I know from personal experience that is how Heavenly Father reacts to his repenting children. Also, I have come to the conclusion that we also need to become more like the father in the parable. When others come to us and ask for our forgiveness, as well as how we react to the knowledge of other’s transgressions, we need to first and foremost express our love and acceptance and joy in their return – and focus on those things instead of the sin. We should be eager to run to them when we see them afar off, and fall on them, and give them ‘much kissing’. There is nothing sweeter. And in such we can indeed be more like God.

My prayer is that we will all resolve to be diligent in continually turning back to the Lord. It is NEVER too late to turn back to God! NEVER! He wants us back! He has told us that He is willing to give us everything and He proved that when He gave us His most valuable possession – His Son.  God wants us to turn our lives back to Him.  As we do, I promise, by the authority vested in me, that our Father in Heaven, while we are yet a great way off, will run and meet us.  I testify that He will fall on our necks – that He will give us MANY kisses of love – AND THAT HE WILL FILL US to the full with heavenly JOY! And I do so, in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ! Amen!