Lavished & Loved, Part 1
Luke 15:20-31
The Story of the Prodigal Son

What was the prodigal son thinking? Resigning from sonship because he had squandered his inheritance. The love of his father was not based on the son’s deeds but on his love for his son. Likewise, our Heavenly Father welcomes prodigal children back into fellowship and showers them with His love.
What was the older brother thinking? Refusing to join the party. How often are we like that older brother, thinking working hard for God is what pleases Him when all the time He is inviting us to the party? He wants to lavish His love upon us, a love not based on what we do but simply because He loves us and we are His children.
1 John 3:1  See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
What are you thinking? Do you realize how much God loves you? Picture it as a blanket surrounding you and live in confidence that you are loved.
Matthew 3:16-17 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.” Even before Jesus started His ministry, God was pleased with Him, revealing that pleasing the Father is not based on works. It’s all about His love for us!