LOVE THAT SIMPLY CANNOT WAIT: In some cultures, prodigals who squander their inheritance often return to face stern patriarchs seated in judgement. The father typically remains unmoved, watching from a distance as the wayward child approaches in humiliation.

But the God of the Bible turns this expectation upside down. The father in Luke 15:20 doesn't wait. He doesn't test. He doesn't maintain his dignity. He runs. This simple detail—a father running to embrace his wayward son—contains the very heart of the gospel and reveals the stunning character of God's love. The sovereign God of the universe doesn't wait for His children to crawl back in perfect repentance. He races toward them, overcome with compassion, unable to wait a moment longer for reconciliation.