John 17:1-3: Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son so He can give glory back to You. For you have given Him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one You have given Him. And this is the way to have eternal life—to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one You sent to earth.

John had a wonderful view of the relationship between Jesus and the Father. He also gives us insight into our Heavenly Father’s love for us, His children (whose sins have been forgiven). The purpose for Jesus coming to earth was to reconnect fallen man back to God as their heavenly Father—not just their Creator. There is a story in Luke that depicts the Father’s heart toward us, whether we’re in fellowship with Him or in rebellion against Him. The Holy Spirit instructed me to send this out as a devotion to let you know that God will always love you, but sin can separate you from His life.

Luke 15:11-14: Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.”

Just look at the heart of the father in comparison to his wayward son. Although his son was demanding, the father was very gracious and giving. The son was driven by lust and pride, but the father was moved by love. Even though the father knew what would happen to this young man’s inheritance, he gave him the portion anyway.

Luke 15:20-24: So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.” But his father said to the servants, “Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.” So the party began.

As the prodigal son was returning home, his father met him and greeted him with love and affection; after they were reconciled, the father told the servants to prepare a feast for his son that was (dead), but now was alive.

Take notice how the father treated the son, both when his son was leaving and when he decided to return home. The father’s love never changed, but the attitude of the son did. This story reveals the heart of our heavenly Father. He will lavish His love on us whether we’re in pride like the prodigal, or headed back home.

Although the father never stopped loving his son, the sin that was in the son’s heart separated him from his earthly father. John tells us in chapter 3 that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. God never stopped loving mankind after the fall, but our sin separated us from having a relationship with Him. As Christians, if we choose to walk in sin, it will adversely affect our relationship with God. Sin severs the line of communication between us and our heavenly Father.

The father in the story never esteemed his riches over having a relationship with his sons. Likewise, the heavenly Father gets pleasure in the prosperity of His children, because He is all about intimate relationship. Is there a sin, or an iniquity in your heart today that has separated you from having true fellowship with your heavenly Father? If so, then confess your faults to Him, because He is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. He cleanses us as well as forgives us so that we won’t have the desire to go back into the sin or iniquity of the past.  —submitted by Pastor Asa Dockery, US