Kong Hee: The Father And His Two SonsSample

The Grace Of Being Let Go

Sometimes people think of God’s grace as Him taking them back into His arms. But God also shows grace to people by letting them go. The story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 is an example of this type of grace.

In this story, the youngest of two sons approaches his father and demands to be given his inheritance. The father had servants, cattle, and land, and by the standards of that culture, the father was a wealthy and important man. Imagine how disrespectful it was for the youngest son to rudely demand his inheritance! What is worse, by demanding his inheritance while his father was still living, the youngest son was essentially telling the father that he did not care if he was alive or dead! Obviously, the youngest son did not want anything to do with his father.

How did the father respond to his son’s hurtful request? The father graciously gave his son everything that he asked for.

The truth is, no one is perfect, and even when we truly love God, we often still foolishly wrestle to be released from His embrace. At times like these, God does not get angry with us or kick us out of His family. Instead, He allows what we want and graciously lets us go, so that we might one day return and more fully experience His love. Even when a person squanders his inheritance of God’s love and blessing like the prodigal son, our heavenly Father is always waiting to welcome him back into His home and into His loving arms.

Prayer for the day:

Thank God for showing you grace when you are ungrateful and hurtful toward Him. Ask Him to help you abide with Him, and not to grow restless in His arms.