Luke 15:20-24 "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. 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. 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: And bring the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry."

This is a story of a somewhat dysfunctional family. Can anyone relate? Look at the son. He asks his father for his inheritance immediately, before the normal time for receiving it - essentially implying that he would prefer that his father were dead. The father would have been devastated. Think about it? - if your son approached you with a request which was normally fulfilled by your passing away - how would you feel? Yet in spite of the pain caused by his callous son, the Father truly loves him. Upon his return, the Father embraces him once again and even treats him like a King!

So it is for much of the unbelieving world - no acknowledgment of or gratitude for their Creator - they're happy to enjoy the abundance of God and His creation, while completely ignoring His existence and counting Him as dead. Yet God loves his prodigals and desires everyone to return to Him!

We are all called to reach this world for the Lord. Prodigals are everywhere (including many of us) Let's give them a taste of their Father's love - so that when they begin to come to their senses, they will know and feel that they can safely return to His house and be received with open arms!