Just like Mother’s Day can bring all of the emotions, Father’s Day can be the same way. A bunch of guys, some dads, are going to get together Saturday morning in Edinburgh for breakfast (guys, feel free to join us) and learn how to be more like OUR Father.

Yep…like the one in the prayer. I’d imagine most people reading this have heard the story of the Lost Son, better known as the Prodigal Son. In this story, we see the true nature of our Father.

In the Middle Eastern Church, this story goes by another name, “The Story of the Running Father.” Perhaps this is due to a cultural significance that just doesn’t make sense to us. After all, there are some dads that run…for FUN! Like miles and miles and miles. Just for “enjoyment.” Now THAT doesn’t make sense to me…but I digress…

Luke 11:20b-24 tells it like this:

The dignified men in the ancient Middle East and even Far Eastern civilizations simply did not run. Some have said it is due to hiking up the robe and exposing his legs. Some say it is because it indicated the man did not have mastery of his time and resources, so he is now hurried.

But one commentary I read indicates something much more dire: when a young Jewish man lost his father’s inheritance, especially in a foreign land, he is to be shamed if he returns home in a process called Kezazah.

Just like the younger son basically told his father that he WISHED he was dead by requesting his inheritance while his father was still alive, the community would gather around the young man and announce he is cut off from the community and his family as if HE was dead.

Maybe the father was just so excited to see his lost son that he couldn’t contain himself. The party the father threw for his son would certainly speak to that. But knowing the younger son would have been cut off, cast out as if he were dead would have been too much for the father to bear. He would have, then, lost his son TWICE.

So the father ran to his son “while he was still a long way off.” He threw his arms around him…he accepted his son. He kissed him showing he does belong in the family. He gave him clothes and a feast and declared his son that was once dead is alive again. WOW!!!

I’ve tried to figure out for a long time what the main quality displayed by the father is in this story. Forgiveness? Acceptance? Craziness? Reckless Abandon? Love? I’ve arrived at something that is unbelievably difficult to emulate, especially in 21st Century American culture.

We just experienced an AMAZING 4 week series in SELFLESS. Such a countercultural idea. And this quality of the father is just as countercultural. Are you ready for it?

HUMILITY.

The father humbled himself. He ran. He forgave. He realized the son who wronged him, who betrayed him, who ran off and squandered his inheritance in a foreign land, who embarrassed him, who made a mockery of him to the community…that son was now home. And the father had, well within his rights, many options. He chose humility.

So the father humbled himself several times throughout this parable. He humbled himself to grant his son's scandalous request to give him his inheritance while the father was still alive. He humbled himself while waiting for a son that he didn’t know if he would return. He humbled himself when he ran to his son who was still a long ways off. He even humbled himself in leaving the party he was hosting for his lost-now-found son to go out to meet with the older son.

I SO MUCH want to be like my Heavenly Father! And it starts with humility. He humbled Himself by sending His only Son into this world. Jesus (the image of the invisible God, Colossians 1:15) humbled Himself when He was baptized. He humbled Himself by serving others instead of being served (Matthew 20:28). He humbled Himself in death.

Let me leave you with a couple of practical steps to being humble from the Prodigal Son…which is to say, let’s practice these together:

1. Return to the Father - The lost son had to swallow his pride, gather himself, and take the journey back home. He had no guarantee he wouldn’t be cut off by his father, the community, or even from his life. But he returned. No matter how far gone you think you are…make that turn towards home.

2. Confess your sin - The son started into his speech: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ He didn’t even get to finish his speech. That’s how excited the Father is for you to return Home.

3. Submit to the Father’s will - The lost son did not know what would happen once he finished his speech. He didn’t even know if he’d get to GIVE his speech. But, again, the Father is so excited for His lost child to return, He just wants to embrace you and welcome you Home.

You’re just like you Father. Wouldn’t it be amazing if that is how we were known? It starts with humility.