“‘Yet even now,’ declares the Lord,
‘return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
and rend your hearts and not your garments.’
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and he relents over disaster.” Joel 2:12-13
“Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God,
for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
Take with you words
and return to the Lord;
say to him,
‘Take away all iniquity;
accept what is good,
and we will pay with bulls
the vows of our lips.
Assyria shall not save us;
we will not ride on horses;
and we will say no more, “Our God,”
to the work of our hands.'” Hosea 14:1-3
The prophets’ renditions of God’s call are full of love, longing, mercy. Even now, though you don’t see the whole stain of your sin. Even now, though you feel justified for your actions, and think you were only giving what another deserved. Even now, though you were ignorant, unaware, of your offense against Me. Even now, though you think My grace is not big enough your shame. Even now, I want you to have the same sorrow I do over your sin, and receive my mercy. Return! I am here to receive and restore!
Even now, it’s not too late, for anyone who heeds this gracious call. Return to Me, my beloved. Come, let us reason together. I will uncover your subconscious but hideous motives, your wayward thinking, your abhorrent hidden attitudes, your every offense against My holiness. And I will deal with them by applying them to the cross. I will plunge them in Christ’s blood and make you clean. Return! (Psalm 139:23-24; Isaiah 1:18; 1 John 1:9)
Why is it so hard for us to admit our folly, rebellion, pride? Because by their very nature they resist honesty, exposure, and conviction. Our enemy the devil masquerades as an angel of light and does all he can to disguise or distort truth. He is a wily liar, and works to distance us from God. WOUld we ask the Lord to open our eyes, to see ourselves as He does? Where can we identify that we have strayed, and what steps can we take this day to return to the Lord, humbly, hopefully? (Joel 2:21-27; 2 Corinthians 11:14; 1 Peter 5:8)
The blessings of returning are varied and good. Restored fellowship with and deeper knowledge of God (and often His people). Redeemed lost time. Spiritual fruit. Are these our desire? What is holding us back from rising from our procrastination, the pleasures of sin, or apathy, to return to the Lord with all our hearts? Restored communion with Him results in unfolding praise.
“Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
to his feet your tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
evermore his praises sing.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King!
Fatherlike he tends and spares us;
well our feeble frame he knows.
In his hand he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Widely yet his mercy flows!” ~Henry Francis Lyle (1834)
Lord, help me resist the world, never Your loving call, and humbly move forward as Your redeemed child for the glory of Your name.
As the rain and snow 