| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Deep Discipleship” Our Bible verse for today: “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding …” Proverbs 2:1-2 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Listen to your heart not just your head” “Direct your heart to understanding …” What does Solomon mean? I think I discovered a clue to what he was getting at while rereading Henri Nouwen’s excellent little book, “The Return of the Prodigal Son.” The parable of the Prodigal Son is one of my favorite parables, and Henri’s book is my favorite study of the parable. The book is based equally on the parable, and on Rembrandt’s famous painting entitled “The Return of the Prodigal,” and on Henri’s own life experience. Herni Nouwen was an unconventional Catholic priest. He never served as a parish priest but was instead a psychologist, theologian, writer, and activist. He was active in the civil rights movement, in social justice issues, and in ministering to the poorest of the poor in Central and South America. He also spent more than twenty years as a professor at both Yale and Harvard Universities. On a personal level, Henri was deeply impacted by Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son, along with Rembrandt’s painting of it, and at various times in his life he saw himself as both the prodigal and as the elder son. But in his last season of life something amazing happened. Henri felt called by God to leave his prestigious position at Harvard University and to spend his last years living as a house father in a community of developmentally disabled adults – some of whom were so severely disabled they needed to have their adult diapers changed on a regular basis. That was Henri’s new job. But it was during this season of life that he finally realized that God was transforming him more and more into the father-figure in the parable. Henri was learning how to be a kind, gracious, humble, and forgiving man whose primary concern was to serve and bless others. It was deep discipleship at its best. One thing this highly educated, sophisticated, published author learned from those developmentally disabled adults was how to interact with others using his heart instead of his head. Henri said that most of those people were incapable of understanding theology and nuanced discussions about important doctrines, but they did understand love. And it was then that Henri realized what made Jesus so special to people from all walks of life – He connected with people’s hearts rather than just with their heads. He loved them first and taught them second. I believe we all need to learn to interact more from the heart rather than just from the head. Jesus connected with people’s hearts first – and we should too. God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville |
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Oak Hill Baptist Church 
Amen. Beautiful.
Thank you
You are quite welcome