“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate” (Luke 15:22-24).

Luke often shares the message Jesus brought by recording the stories Jesus told. This is one of the most well known—the Prodigal Son. Jesus told this story after the religious leaders criticized Him. They were murmuring, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2). That was one of the challenges Jesus faced every day. He came to receive sinners and tell them that God loved them and that greatly offended the religious leaders.

In this parable the rebellious younger son left home and squandered the money his father gave him. He came home broke, disillusioned and humbled. He had a speech prepared in which he offered to come, not as a son, but as a servant. His Father never even allowed him to finish his rehearsed statement. Instead, his Father welcomed him. He ran to meet him, embraced him and gave a feast to celebrate his return.

That is how our heavenly Father feels about sinners who come home. I once thought this parable was for people who made a commitment to Christ then wandered off—and it is. But it is more than that. It is a story for all of us. For whoever we are and whatever we have done—whether we have believed and strayed or never believed at all, when we turn to Jesus we will find our Father is waiting for us. When we return to our Father’s house we don’t find ourselves in a strange place. We realize that we’re home.