The Reach of Kindness

Based on 2 Samuel 9-11, Luke 15:11-32

"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." Luke 15:20.

When the Prodigal Son came home, his father ran to meet him and embraced him, even though he was still a great way off in the distance. He could have waited for him to shamefully make his way all the way back up to the farm, but instead, he met him a great way off...

But behind that embrace, even when the son was still a greater way off, off the deep end, making poor choices and not even thinking about his father, his father still loved him. That kindness and compassion was bubbling up, just waiting for the moment he would come home...and that's why the overflow happened! He couldn't wait for his son to make the lonely travel up to the house-so he went to the road to meet him!

That's how far the reach of kindness goes. It reaches beyond the faults & failures, even though it doesn't accept the faults & failures. It gives another chance, even when it seems so undeserved...David practiced that with the remnant of the house of king Saul, the man who spent most of his kingship chasing after David to kill him...

"...And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant! 7And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. 8And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?" 2 Samuel 9:6b-8.

Mephibosheth felt so unworthy of this incredible offer. Not only was he from the house of Saul, but he was lame on his feet and did not feel like he looked the part of an honorable man. But just as the father met the prodigal when he was a great way off, David sought out Mephibosheth...that kind of kindness reaches far & makes all the difference...and sometimes people are just waiting to see if we'll go the extra mile...again, that lost sheep mentality! Sometimes, the shame keeps the sheep away. It's no longer the lure of a dangerous, different life...it's just the shame of coming home. We need to invite them back home...and like Mephibosheth's case, back to the kingdom...and in our case, the Kingdom of God! The Lord is waiting for us as the father was with the prodigal and as David was with Mephibosheth...even when David went with Bathsheba, God saw his repentant heart...

If you feel "a great way off," or if you know someone who is, let's be bold. Let's pray for them. Let's reach out to them. Let's let them know The Father is waiting to embrace them in Jesus' Name!