Once upon a time, there lived a King in a majestic land. Noble and fine, this king was generous and good to all he knew. His two daughters - princesses - lived in the court of the King. One day his youngest princess approached, "Father King, present to me the share of your goods that belong to me." So, the good and noble King divided everything he had between his two princesses. He gave them his life, his resources and his wealth. Now, the young princess was very satisfied with what she received - so much so that she gathered all she owned and left the kingdom for a far away land.
During this time, far away from the comfort and safety of the kingdom, she wasted all her Father King had freely given to her. She lived in reckless abandon and great excess. A dreadful famine fell over this distant land and before long, everything she had was gone. Suffering tremendous deprivation, the young princess ached and longed for all the good things she once had...everything she had been graciously given by the King; her Father.
One day the fair maiden was awakened - it was as if her mind was opened for the first time to all she had been given and all she had forsaken. Her thoughts returned to the kingdom, "My Father has many hired servants in his kingdom and they are well taken care of while I am slaving away and starving to death." The young princess orchestrated her return. "I will return to the kingdom and tell my Father, the King how wrong I was." I will plead with him, crying, "Please, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I know that I am not worthy to be your princess any longer - please hire me and I will serve you well." Determined to earn her way back into the kingdom, the young princess set out for home.
Meanwhile, the King had been struck with grief over the loss of his young princess. Every afternoon he stood out on the watch-tower canvasing the land hoping with all his heart to see His young princess coming back home. Most kings would have considered such a wayward child "dead," but not this King. This King was able to look past the hurt inflicted on his heart. His love was strong; stronger than any offense and much more powerful than any sense of justice he would gain by turning away from his youngest princess by cutting her off from his kingdom. Her place in his heart was secure. This was clearly seen by everyone, day after day, as He paced in eager expectation of her return.
Then one day - one fine day - through strained eyes, the King caught a glimpse of what he was certain was the young princess. Without a moments’ hesitation he girded his regal robes around his waste and ran swiftly and certain toward his princess. No sense of royal duty restrained him; no sense of position or authority held him back. His love for his princess could not be contained. Weary and tired, the young princess fell into the strong arms of her Father King. He grasped her weak body and held her close, weeping for joy over her return.
Shame covered the young princess. Pulling away from her Father she pleaded, "Oh, King, I have hurt you. I have sinned against heaven and before you...I am no longer worthy to be your princess...if you only knew where I have been and what I have done..." She could not even bring herself to look the King in the eye. Gently, the good and noble King cupped the burdened face of His daughter and lifted her head. He looked into her questioning eyes and instantly, she knew His love. Her Father's love covered her shame and commanded her guilt to leave. His love restored the young princess to her rightful position within the kingdom. She refused to resist his love again. Seeing her Father for the King He was, the young princess embraced His love.
"My daughter, my princess, has come home. This child of mine was dead and now she is alive; she was lost and now she is found. Cover her with the royal robes, place a ring on her finger, sandals on her feet and prepare the fattened calf for we are going to celebrate," the King jubilantly proclaimed to his servants. What followed was a lively celebration complete with music and dancing.
On her way back home from the fields, the elder princess heard the festivities. Perplexed, she summoned one of the servants and inquired, "It sounds like a party, what seems to be going on?" The ensuing answer incited anger deep from within the princess. "My lady, your sister has come home. Your Father, the King, has killed the fattened calf because he has her back home, safe and sound." She could not understand how her Father could be so eager to welcome his wayward and rebellious daughter back home, much less how he could throw her a celebration worthy of the fattened calf. The princesses lack of knowing her Father's heart prevented her from rejoicing with Him; bitterness refused to allow her to take part.
"Come and join in my joy, my daughter," the King pleaded, "for your sister has been restored." Dissuaded, the princess answered her Father, "I have been with you all this time - serving you and obeying you in every way. Yet, you never once gave me even a young goat that I may celebrate with my friends. But when this daughter of yours who devoured your livelihood in unspeakable ways comes home, you slaughtered the prized calf. How could you?"
"My daughter," her father affectionately replied, "You are always with me and everything I have is yours. I have never withheld anything from you. Don't you understand, we had to celebrate - you and I, need to celebrate, for this is your sister. I thought she was dead but she is alive. She was lost, but now she is home."
Questions to ponder: "Are you at home with God's love? Have you joined in the unwarranted, unmerited celebration of His love for you...or are you still out in the "fields" as the dutiful daughter?"
Books to consider: Experiencing Father's Embrace by Jack Frost, The Power of the Blood Covenant by Malcolm Smith, Abba's Child by Brennan Manning, The Rest of the Gospel by Dan Stone
