Whom Should I
Return To?
“If you, Israel, will return, then return to me,” declares
the Lord. Jeremiah 4:1(NIV)
At times in our spiritual journey, we can
become a bit disconnected from God. This may be the result of focusing too much
on our own personal circumstances, making bad choices that can lead us astray,
or allowing “stuff” to consume our time and attention. The good news is that
even if we have been focusing on the wrong things, or making unwise decisions
that have taken us in the opposite direction from God’s will, God still stands with
open arms, ready to welcome back anyone who is willing to return to Him.
God loves to bless His people. The
Israelites, of all people, should have been the first to say amen to that truth
because God chose them as His special people. He protected them while they were
in Egypt, He delivered them from bondage, He provided for them in the wilderness,
and He gave them their own land. But they still found themselves feeling
disconnected from God.
The problem was
that God’s people were focusing on the wrong things while failing to remember
the right things: the many blessings of God. This resulted in unwise decisions
that took them in the opposite direction from God’s will. Instead of trusting
God, they were turning away from God. Instead of remaining faithful to God,
they were committing spiritual adultery. They had abandoned God, and decided
they could do just fine on their own. But all they succeeded in doing was
making a mess of their lives and driving a wedge between themselves and God.
But God stepped
in. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God called the people to return to Him.
Instead of rejecting the people for their rebellion, God graciously invited
them to return to intimacy with Him. Instead of God saying, “You have gone too
far this time,” He covered a multitude of sins with His love.
God offers
forgiveness and restoration to anyone who is willing to receive them from him.
If a disconnect has compromised your relationship with God, of if you feel detached
from God, the simple truth is that you have moved away from God. God has not
walked away from you, He has not forsaken you, and He has not moved or changed
His heavenly address. He stands anxiously awaiting your return to Him.
If you want to
return to God, then you need to do a few things to make this desire official.
First, respond immediately. The longer you put God off, the more likely you are
to never take that final step in the right direction. Next, you must do return
to God completely. Turning halfhearted to God is not sufficient; you must turn
to God with your whole heart. Anything less than complete devotion is not
devotion at all. Lastly, you must acknowledge your disobedience, ask God for
forgiveness, and then turn from your sin and do not look back.
Whether you have
taken just one step in the wrong direction or have been walking in the wrong
direction for years, God would say to you today, “Return to Me!”
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