Turn Around
Today’s Passages are – Jeremiah 1 – 3; Proverbs 14
(Second Milers also read – John 21 – Acts 2; Memorize – John 15:7)
Before I share the my main thought from the Scripture this morning, I just wanted to point out from the passage that the writer, Jeremiah, was a hand made child of God that was uniquely designed by Him to be a prophet to Israel and Judah. (see Jeremiah 1:4 – 6) God has also made you and and I, and wants to use us in a special way to fellowship with Him, glorify Him, and fulfill His plan for the ages. We are not here by accident. We were specially created the way we are on purpose, and for a purpose.
Now for today’s main thought:
“They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 3:1)
Throughout the history of Israel, the people of God have gone through periods where they would fall away from God. Here in this passage the word “backsliding” is used seven times. Here in this passage Jeremiah is pleading with the backsliding people of Israel to come back to the Lord. Our God is awesome! Who else but God would love these people and keep taking them back, even though they would turn against Him over and over. He never gives up on His children. I must confess that I have a tough time forgiving people in the same way that God has forgiven me. I want to write people off; but God is not like me. He continues to reach out to those who have forsaken Him. Notice what God required of the people in order for them to come back into a right relationship with Him:
“Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 3:13)
“Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:” (Jeremiah 3:14)
God says that if the people would acknowledge their sin, and then turn, He would take them back. Turning means that they would put away all of the things that they were doing that God was displeased with. This is a pretty good definition of repentance, which involves more than just acknowledging.
The people of God today could follow this same simple formula in order to come back to their God. We must acknowledge where we have gone wrong. It may not be some deep sin or rebellion. It may be just apathy, coldness, or laziness. Then we have to confess it to God and turn away from it. God loves us deeply and wants more than anything for us to be in love with Him. If you have “slidden” away from God, return again to the Lord.
Posted in Thoughts from Jeremiah by Phil Erickson with 2 comments.
Pastor; yes return unto the Lord!!! I know first hand the consequences of sin and I witness it’s damaging effects every Saturday night in the Jail. Last night a man came to the study named Tyson. We always read the Proverb for the day and share our life experences in relation to God’s word. For me this weekly cleansing and forsaking has drawen me closer to the Lord at many levels; but tonight it was Tyson’s turn to bear his sin amongst the breathern. Tyson admitted that his wife is saved and he would always mock her and continue to sell, use and traffic drugs. Upon his arrest the debt of his sin would be paid by mankind but what about his sin debt to God? Last night after Tyson read Proverbs 13:18-21 he began to weap. He cryied out to God right there in his chair. Tyson said he has always avoided God’s calling, avoided God’s word, avoided God’s instruction. He admitted his sin debt to God and asked if God would forgive him? Praise God Tyson got saved last night!!! He knows he will have to pay his sin debt to mankind but he now knows he won’t be alone. Tyson was so happy to know that God will never forsake him, so happy to finally believe that Jesus loves him!!! Often times we try to pull the lost man to salvation but last night I witnessed the pulling of the Holy Spirit on a broken man’s heart first hand. Point is; let’s stay close to God everyday and never let our sin debt build up to the point that God has to send us to prison to get our attention, he loves us enough to do just that. Let’s meditate, pray, seek, forgive, and share God to everyone we can before it’s to late. Please pray for Tyson as he begins his new walk with the Lord. 1 Cor 6:11
I was thinking on the same lines as I was reading this mornings passage. Through my role as parent and grandparent the Lord has allowed me to experience a little bit of how he must feel when he deals with me. I love my children and grandchildren and no matter what they do I will always love them. When I see them do things that I know that will hurt them or I see them going down the wrong path I just want them to stop, turn around and get right. It is so hard to watch but it is something that they have to recognize on their own.