SATURDAY 27 JUNE 2020

Good morning brothers and sisters in Christ.

During the past week we have reflected on fathers, in Scripture, and reflected on parenthood.

To round off the week a few simple thoughts.

Every day at some point I find myself saying the Lord’s Prayer.

We can read in Luke’s Gospel 11: 1-2 ‘One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

‘He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.”

These words heard by the first disciples must surely have had a huge impact on them, to be told that the One whom Jesus called Father, was their Father also. And, I would guess that we are so familiar with these words that we fail to note their significance.

Through our faith in Jesus, his heavenly Father is our heavenly Father, and we are adopted into the family of God.

“................and I can never be alone, for Father God you’re these beside me.”

Yesterday’s post made mention of the parable of the Prodigal Son.

The picture below is by the artist Rembrandt.

In it you see the key figures in the parable. The returning younger son on his knees, the father’s hands embracing that boy and the elder son standing watching from the side.

I have a framed poster of the painting, which used to hang on the wall at the foot of my bed, and it was the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes in the morning, and last thing I saw before sleep at night. It now hangs at the foot of the stairs in the house.

As I have reflected on the parable and on the painting over the years, I find that at different times of life I have been able to place myself in the shoes of each of the characters. It’s all part and parcel of family life.

The important thing for me though, in the parable of the Prodigal Son is the compassion that the Father has for his children, and his desire that all should know this.

I have heard so many songs Listened to a thousand tongues But there is one that sounds above them all The Father's song, the Father's love You sung it over me And for eternity it's written on my heart Heaven's perfect melody, the Creator's symphony You are singing over me, the Father's song Heaven's perfect mystery, the King of Love has sent for me Now You're singing over me, The Father's song. ( Matt Redman) God bless you this day.