But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. Luke 15:20

The son took his father’s money, and squandered it. By God’s grace, he realized what a fool he had been, so he headed home to repent. He didn’t go to ask to be reinstated as a son (he was painfully aware that he did not deserve that honor!). Instead he intended to ask to be one of his father’s slaves.

“But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”

Our Heavenly Father does not receive us as His slaves. We do not even deserve that! Instead He runs to us, and treats us as highly favored sons and daughters.

While we are wise to remember that such honor is undeserved, by God’s grace we are His highly favored children.

Here are two correct reactions:

Amazed gratitude toward our Father.
Treat His other children as He has kindly treated us.