JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Luke 15:20.

Jesus told a story about a father who had two sons. The younger son took his share of the estate and squandered his wealth on wild living. But after he spent everything, he was in great need. His desperate circumstances led him to do some serious soul-searching about the direction of his life. He came to his senses and decided to return to his father. How would the father respond to this young man’s return?

Jesus said, “while he was still a long way off, his father was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son and threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

This is a vivid picture of God’s embrace for the person who recognizes their need for forgiveness and comes home to His grace.

The compassion of God reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com