“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Luke 15:31-32
Friday, September 11th, 2026
Devotional written by Brian Field, Missions Pastor
A FATHER’S HEART
Several years ago, our family got to go on a cruise to Alaska with my wife’s family. If you haven’t been, I highly recommend it. There is such awe-inspiring scale and beauty to Glacier Bay National Park and getting to stop at the quaint little port towns along the way was so peaceful. What was not so peaceful was the first day on the ship.
Many people gathered at the bow as we departed Vancouver to celebrate the start of our journey. Everyone waved to the people still on land and music was playing. So much excitement for everything that was in store for the week to come.
We knew that we wanted to tour the spa and gym and take part in the raffle for free massages, so we started making our way to the back of the ship. After the tour and winning a free massage in the raffle (yes!!!!), in all the excitement and commotion, we realized that our 4-year-old son Hudson was nowhere to be found. In fact, we came to realize that we had not seen him since the ship set sail. A good half hour ago. And before you go judging us too harshly, Jesus’ parents did the exact same thing!
Anyway, panic kicked in fairly quickly as we all began the search for our missing son. Thousands of people on the ship and 11 potential decks of ship to cover! In the ensuing minutes, all the worst-case scenarios began to play in my head. Did someone take him? Could he have somehow gotten pushed off the front of the ship? What was going through his head being separated from his family for this long?
I went back to the last place I had seen him and saw a group of people all huddled together. Guess who was in the middle of the pack? A distraught little four-year-old being consoled by friendly ship patrons and staff. He was lost and now found!
All of us who are parents have likely experienced that feeling of losing a child. Even if only for a few minutes. Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son teaches us about the nature and character of God. A Father who cares so deeply for his children, longs to be in relationship with them and wildly celebrates when they return to Him. No matter how badly they have misbehaved or turned their hearts from Him, He is waiting with open arms for them to return.
Reflection: Where in your own heart have you wandered from God? Where do you need to seek forgiveness and restoration with Him? He is waiting with open arms!