Expanding slightly today on a brief thought from yesterday’s message, which touched on Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son.  We join the story when the father and son meet as the son returns, from a rebellious and decadent life, to the place where he is loved:

Luke 15:21

And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

The son was right, he wasn’t worthy — but he wasn’t speaking the right language, and the father didn’t even answer him.  The father cared about one thing — he loved his son.

Luke 15:22-24

22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.

The son might speak words of worthiness, but the father spoke the language of love.  They aren’t in the same language, not in the same realm, barely even the same universe.

You don’t have to be worthy to be loved, you just have to be — loved.  Love’s existence lies not with the one who is loved, but with the one who is loving.

Trying to approach God on the basis of worth?  He’d like to change the conversation, to use a different language, to speak in terms of loving you as His child.

John 1:12

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: