阅读经文 

在接下来的几天里，我们将重点讨论圣灵的果子——这里提到的首要而根本的果子就是爱。圣经的核心教导是爱。爱是神的品格和神所做一切的中心。当我们相信神——相信祂藉着耶稣的生命和工作以及圣灵的大能对我们的令人叹服的大爱——我们就开始活出神的爱，因为神会活在我们里面。（参罗 5:5；约 14:16）

我们今天所读的这个比喻常被命名为“失丧的儿子”或“浪子”的比喻，但更合适的标题应当是 “慈父”的比喻。这个故事中的父亲表现出他的厚爱，他没有试图控制儿子的行为，尽管儿子的行为肯定让他很伤心。爱总是会给人自由。

爱总是向着有人的方向。儿子回来的时候，父亲毫不犹豫地跑去迎接儿子。爱是亲切的。父亲搂着儿子，亲吻他。这个行动远胜过说“我爱你”的言语本身。爱不会让冷漠和无情扼杀了温暖和亲情。

爱是和解。父亲与儿子的关系比儿子所做的任何事情的意义都更重要。爱不允许纷争的杂草扼杀关系。父亲甚至邀请人来庆祝。今天，你是否在为你所爱的人庆祝呢？

For the next several days we will focus on the fruit of the Spirit — and the first, foundational fruit mentioned here is love. The core teaching of the Bible is love. Love is at the center of God's character and all that God is and does. And when we come to believe in God — trusting in his amazing love for us through the life and work of Jesus and by the power of the Spirit — we begin to live by God's love, because God comes to live in us (see Romans 5:5; 1 John 4:16).

The parable in our reading for today is often called "The Lost Son" or "The Prodigal Son," but a more fitting title is "The Loving Father." The father in this story shows his love by not attempting to control his son's behavior, even though it surely broke his heart. Love always sets free.

Love moves in the direction of people. When the son returns, the father does not hold back but runs to greet his son. Love is affectionate. The father throws his arms around his son and kisses him. Saying "I love you" always involves more than words.

Love does not allow apathy and indifference to choke out warmth and affection. Love is reconciling. The father's relationship with his son is more important than anything his son has done. Love does not allow the weed of strife to choke out a relationship. The father even calls for a celebration. Are you celebrating your loved ones today?