Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Gues Who's Back!" for Sunday, 29 June 2014 - Read Luke 15:11-24

Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Gues Who's Back!" for Sunday, 29 June 2014 - Read Luke 15:11 He said, “A certain man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ He divided his livelihood between them. 13 Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living. 14 When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any. 17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. 19 I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’
20 “He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate; 24 for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ They began to celebrate.
The father declared, “This son of mine was dead and has come back to life! He was lost and is found!”(Luke 15:24 (CEB))
Our daughter found a stray cat on our porch. Without asking permission, she fed him. Then the inevitable happened: Old Tom made himself at home. Soon his furry grey body and quiet purr became an important part of our lives. But he had not given up his street life; he would disappear for weeks at a time. Just when we decided he was gone for good, he would return — a torn and bloody skeleton of a cat. The prodigal son had some of Old Tom in him. But so do we! While we enjoy the comfort of being part of God’s family, our independent nature at times gets us into trouble, and we end up spiritually — and sometimes even physically — starved and wounded. No matter how many times Old Tom wandered off, it was a day for rejoicing when someone shouted, “Guess who’s back!” Someone would pour him a bowl of milk, and someone else would prepare a warm bath. Our scripture tells us that God’s welcome mat is always out, no matter how many times we stray. Imagine the cheering for us from heaven when someone shouts, “Guess who’s back!”
The Author: Madeline Peterson (Nebraska, USA)
Thought for the Day: When we stray, God is waiting to welcome us home.
Prayer: Dear Lord, our willful nature causes us to stray from your loving care. Thank you for welcoming back your foolish, straying children. Amen.

Prayer focus: Teenage runaways and their parents
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