Reflection from Jill Yap Damiao
THE LORD’S HEART FOR HIS PEOPLE
July 12, 2020
Devotional today 
To get the most out of this devotion, set aside time to read the Scripture referenced throughout.
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, where we find the Beatitudes, wasn’t about how to be more polite or acceptable in society. The Lord wanted to remind His followers that God examines the heart—He searches out our devotion to Him in every area of our life, including our most inward thoughts and desires.
That truth corresponds to another of Jesus’ important lessons, which is found in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). The younger son turns away from his father and his family, pursuing pleasure and satisfaction in the material world. Then, desolate, he journeys homeward only to see his father running toward him from a long way off. So it is with our heavenly Father: In His great love, He runs toward His beloved children to reconcile them to Himself, no matter where they’ve been or what they’ve done.
Think about it
Read the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. Do you relate more to the elder or younger brother?
Think of the father in the story as a representation of God. How does it feel to know the Lord’s heart for you remains unchanged, regardless of your choices or time spent away from Him?
Bible in One Year: Proverbs 16-18