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Key Bible Verse: His father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son [and] embraced him (Luke 15:20). Bonus Reading:Luke 15:11-32

A youngster in a Christian home professed faith in Christ and appeared headed toward a missionary career. But after college, his interests wandered. He moved to another city to take a job. As time passed and family contact waned, he began doing things incompatible with his earlier profession.

Finally, in turmoil, the young man phoned his brother to tell how he'd contracted AIDS, and now didn't have long to live. He described repeated efforts to find help at churches in his city. But when they learned of his gay life-style, he became unwelcome. Stunned, his brother asked, "Have you talked to Dad?"

The young man replied, "No, I'm not sure I can. I know how badly I've disappointed and hurt him." But, at his brother's urging, he decided to call home. He haltingly admitted to his father what had happened. Once he began to talk, however, the story flowed.

When he'd finished, his father asked, "Son, do you remember the story of the prodigal?"

"Of course," he replied.

His father said, "Like the father in the story, I'm urging you to come home. We love you and we'll help you."

—Luder Whitlock Jr. in A Mighty Long Journey

My Response: Would the family prodigal turn to me in trouble?

Thought to Apply: Sometimes I have a terrible feeling that I am dying not from the virus, but from being untouchable.

—Amanda Heggs (in The [Manchester, England] Guardian)

Adapted from A Mighty Long Journey (Broadman & Holman, 2000) by permission.

Copyright © 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Thank you, God, that Your purity never blocked Your mercy. Show me how to model Your compassion for the hurting.

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