8.3- The Art of Forgiveness

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 8.3-

The Art of Forgiveness                        Luke 15:11-24                        David C. McCasland

    One afternoon I spent two hours at an art exhibit – The Father & His Two Sons: The Art of Forgiveness – in which all of the pieces were focused on Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son (Luke 5:11-31). I found Edward Riojas’ painting, The Prodigal Son especially powerful. The painting portrays the once wayward son returning home, wearing rags and walking with his head down. With a land of death behind him, he steps onto a pathway where his father is already running toward him. At the bottom of the painting are Jesus’ words, “But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion (verse 20).

    I was deeply moved by realizing once more how God’s unchanging love has altered my life. When I walked away from Him, He didn’t turn His back, but kept looking, watching and waiting. His love is undeserved yet unchanging; often ignored yet never withdrawn.

    We are all guilty, yet our heavenly Father reaches out to welcome us, just as the father in this story embraced his wayward son. “Let’s have a feast and celebrate,” his father told the servants. “For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found”     (verses 23-24).

    The Lord still rejoices over those who return to Him today – and that is worth celebrating!


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