.....heart

So he got up and went to his father.But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:20

While he was still a long way off... The father knew the son's heart!

He did not say,

"Here comes that scoundrel...

What does he expect from me? A loan?"

Perhaps we are a long way off 

from being what God expects of us.

We are so far down the road 

that anyone else might suspect our motives

for calling on the Father 

Perhaps we are Christian

for what we can get out of it.

But God can see - even though the distance is great...

    the direction of our steps and

    the purpose of our heart

And if that purpose is a longing... 

    for a renewed relationship with the Father

    or a closer tie with the Father

God's heart will go out to us

Even though we are still "a long way off"

- david langerfeld