Every family has an empty seat. A prodigal son. A wayward daughter. A relationship that went cold. Someone who walked away and hasn't come back yet.

In Luke 15, Jesus tells what we've always called the Parable of the Prodigal Son — but it's actually the parable of two sons. And if you only follow one of them, you'll miss the radical message Jesus is after.

The younger son takes his inheritance early, wastes it, and ends up in a pig pen. The older son stays home, does everything right, and ends up just as far from the father's heart. Both had a place at the table. Both walked away from it — just in different directions.

What this parable shows us is a Father who runs. Who doesn't wait for you to clean yourself up before He embraces you. Who goes out to the bitter son standing outside the party just as eagerly as He ran toward the lost one coming up the road.

God's rescue mission in your life may not start at your best moment. It may very well start at your worst.

No matter how far you've gone or how long you've been away — you are welcome at the table.