Första kärlekspärlan

**God, your love is unconditional. It carries me through time and space.

Jesus said: A man had two sons. The younger son said to his father, "Father, give me the portion of the property that is to be mine." Then the father divided his property between them. A few days later, the younger son had sold everything he owned and left for a foreign country, where he squandered his fortune on a life of debauchery. When he had spent it all, there was a severe famine in the country, and he began to suffer hardship. He went and took the service of a wealthy man in that country, and he sent him out on his land to herd pigs. He would have liked to eat his fill of the seed pods that the pigs ate, but no one would let him have any.

Then he came to his senses and thought: "How many of my father's day laborers have plenty of food, and here I am starving to death. I will go home to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Let me go as one of your day laborers." And he went home to his father. From a distance, his father saw him. Filled with pity, he ran to him and embraced and kissed him.

The son said, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, "Hurry and get my best robe and dress him in it, and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. And bring the fatted calf, and slaughter it, and we will eat and feast. My son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." And the feast began. Luke 15:11-24

Jesus paints the picture of a God who loves without limit, condition or reservation. Like a loving parent, God comes running to meet us and embrace us, no matter what. Throughout history, religions have used God as an instrument of power, demanding obedience and threatening punishment. But what if God is not like us humans? What if God does not judge and condemn, demand and punish? What if God succeeds in what we so often fail to do; to love without demanding anything in return? Jesus paints a picture of a God who gives himself completely and who meets us whoever we are, whatever we have done and whatever we have to go through. Because nothing can stop God from loving us.

**How can you practice trusting God?