*Above Only Devotional* *Friday, December 6* *Running with the Heart of Our Father* *2 Peter 3:8-9 (LB), Luke 15:20*

*Above Only Devotional*

*Friday, December 6*

*Running with the Heart of Our Father*

*2 Peter 3:8-9 (LB), Luke 15:20*

But don't forget ... that a day or a thousand years from now is like tomorrow to the Lord. He isn't really being slow about his promised return, even though it sometimes seems that way.

But he is waiting for the good reason that he is not willing that any should perish, and he is giving more time for sinners to repent.*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.

Just like the brother of the prodigal son, so many believers do not understand the heart of God the Father. If the brother of the prodigal son had understood his father's heart, he would join the father to joyfully welcome their brother who was dead and lost back to the life and security of their home. Our heavenly Father wants to run towards sinners all around us and embrace them with His love just the same way that the Father of the prodigal son joyfully ran to embrace his son and welcome him home. The only way that He can do this, is through you and me and the way we can do it is to passionately tell people about the great and unconditional love that God the Father has shown to them through Christ Jesus.

Just as the prodigal son was not sure about how or if his father would receive him back home, so many people are ignorant of the heart and love of God the Father. They feel they are too dirty for God to love them and they feel that God is angry with them so they are running away from God. They do not know that the way God shows His love for us is that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, Rom.5:8. They do not know that God has poured out ALL His anger upon Jesus on the Cross and right now God has already reconciled them to Himself, Rom. 5:10. They do not know that God has already forgiven them ALL their sins and all He wants from them is to receive the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 26:18) and receive the reconciliation that God the Father has provided for them through Christ. This is why we preach the gospel.

*Prayer:*
Dear Father, I ask that you use me to express your heart of love and redemption to someone today as I preach the gospel to them.

*Bible in one year reading plan:*
Daniel 3-4, 1 John 4