2016年1月21日
歡迎回家！Welcome Home!
读经: 路加福音15章11-24節
Reading: Luke 15:11-24
相離還遠，他父親看見，就動了慈心。-路加福音15章20節
While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him.- Luke 15:20
全年读经: 出埃及記1-3章;馬太福音14章1-21節
Bible in a Year: Exodus 1–3; Matthew 14:1-21
我們正為兒子的叛逆感到苦惱，一次教會聚會後，一位朋友把我拉到一旁，說：「我只是想讓你知道，我每天都為你和你兒子禱告。」他頓了一下說：「其實我很內疚。」
「為什麼呢？」我問他。「因為我從未面對叛逆的孩子。我的孩子都循規蹈距，但這不是因為我為他們做了什麼。其實⋯⋯」他聳了聳肩說，「孩子們都會有自己的選擇。」
我很想給這位朋友一個擁抱，顯然他的關心是上帝的提醒，讓我知道天父瞭解我正為兒子的問題感到心力交瘁。
沒有人比我們的天父更能體會期待浪子回頭的心情，路加福音15章中所記載的，是我們和上帝都曾經歷的故事。耶穌藉著比喻為所有的罪人提供一條出路，因他們迫切需要回到創造主的身邊，重溫天父的懷抱。
耶穌是上帝以人的樣式來體會我們的愁苦，以慈愛的雙眼關注我們。祂就是上帝，奔向我們、張開雙臂擁我們入懷。祂親自迎接並親吻悔改的罪人 （20節） ，讓他們進入天父的家。
上帝不僅為我們在門前留了一盞燈，祂也在門口守候期盼、呼喚我們歸來。
天父，我們今天再次向祢求告，
希望我們流浪的孩子能悔改、回歸父家。
我們的至親會拒絕勸告、反駁頂撞、高唱反調，甚至目中無人，但無法抗拒我們禱告的力量。–巴斯德
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When we were going through a particularly challenging time with our son, a friend pulled me aside after a church meeting. "I want you to know that I pray for you and your son every day," he said. Then he added: "I feel so guilty."
"Why?" I asked. "Because I've never had to deal with prodigal children," he said. "My kids pretty much played by the rules. But it wasn't because of anything I did or didn't do. Kids," he shrugged, "make their own choices."
I wanted to hug him. His compassion was a reminder, a gift from God, communicating to me the Father's understanding for my struggle with my son.
No one understands the struggle with prodigals better than our heavenly Father. The story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 is our story and God's. Jesus told it on behalf of all sinners who so desperately need to come home to their Creator and discover the warmth of a loving relationship with Him.
Jesus is God in the flesh seeing us in the distance and looking on us with compassion. He is God running to us and throwing His arms around us. He is heaven's kiss welcoming the repentant sinner home (v. 20).
God hasn't just left the porch light on for us. He's out on the front porch watching, waiting, calling us home.
We ask again today, Lord, that our prodigals would come home.
Our loved ones may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons—but they are helpless against our prayers. J. Sidlow Baxter