Jesus told the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15 to correct misconceptions about God's character. While many people—both in Jesus' time and today—view God as distant, cold, or primarily focused on judgment, the father in this story reveals God's true nature. When the wayward son returns home after squandering his inheritance, the father sees him from a distance (showing he was watching and waiting), runs to him (an undignified act for a wealthy man in that culture), embraces him before he can even finish his rehearsed apology, and immediately restores him with symbolic gifts: a robe (representing covering and protection), a ring (symbolizing authority), and sandals (signifying preparation for service). The father then throws a celebration feast, demonstrating his joy at his son's return. Through this parable, we learn that God loves us persistently and patiently, runs toward us in our brokenness, forgives completely without conditions, restores us to a position even better than before, and celebrates when we return to Him. This understanding challenges us to examine our own relationship with God, identify any misconceptions we might have about His character, and take steps to fully receive His unconditional love. (Preached by Steve Coots to youth group on 8-13-2025)
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