Rediscovering the Father Heart of God (by Jeff Lucas)

(Amazon UK link)

I have very much appreciated the books by Jeff Lucas over the past decade or so. He is a pastor, originally from the UK but living in the United States. Some of his books are full of anecdotes and self-deprecating humour; others are more serious and thought-provoking. ‘Rediscovering the Father Heart of God’ is one of the latter, which I first read nearly ten years ago, in January 2014. 

I had forgotten what it was about, though the title could have reminded me. The book is an exposition of the well-known parable of the Prodigal Son.  The first section looks at the son’s part in the story in some depth, asking, for instance, why he wanted his father’s inheritance. We’re warned against thinking that money buys happiness, and a stark look is taken at the son’s rise in apparent popularity, and his descent into poverty and loneliness. 

Much is made of his decision to return home, and the real repentance he demonstrated. This destitute young man isn’t just sad about his circumstances, or sorry for what happened - he knows that as a hired worker or even a slave in his father’s household, he would be better off than he is feeding pigs and near starvation himself. This is the heart of repenting: a desire to return to God. 

The main section of the book focuses on the father of the story, who represents God the Father, and who rushes out to welcome his son without even listening to his apologies or request for a lowly job. This is the most moving part of the book, in my opinion. It’s not that the concept is new to me - much is made, in the Middle Eastern world, of the idea of the father in the story picking up his robe and running. It’s not culturally appropriate, and it doesn’t tie in with the more normal expectations of fathers as strict disciplinarians.

The final part of the book looks at the older brother, who is often forgotten in the re-telling of the story. He represents the ‘religious’ people who were listening to the story, who cared more about rules and principles than people. Jeff Lucas takes a brief foray into the meaning of legalism and religiosity, balancing his comments as he explains why some traditions and rules are helpful; so long as they don’t become more important than those around us, or than God himself. 

The writing is very good, light-weight and at times even flippant - in the best possible sense of the word - but also with much to think about. Oh, and I particularly liked the introduction by the author’s good friend Adrian Plass, who is another of my favourite modern Christian writers.

Definitely recommended, and I expect I will read this again in another nine or ten years. No longer in print, but sometimes available inexpensively second-hand. 

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