Prodigal, lost sheep, and John 3:16: love from strength
The prodigal son gives the individual relationship image - 'obedience also goes with runs to hug' - and the lost sheep shows God cares about individual strays. In the you-and-God equation 'it's only you that can screw it up,' yet God holds the covenant together on Israel's behalf 'maybe 15 times' in the Old Testament. John 3:16's highlight: 'God so loved those who don't love him that he gave his only begotten son' - love agnostic of acceptance, before you agreed to the rescue. The closest earthly picture of that strength-position love: parents of special-needs kids who may never say thank you or I love you back - 'what a picture of... God goes, I will love you unconditionally.' And when you accept, 'all of heaven celebrates' - they're not irritated: 'finally, Dan figured it out.'
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