Return – Revive – Raise I
The Word: Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up (Hosea 6:1).
Prayerful Contemplation: It is impossible to forget one’s first encounter with the Lord. The First Encounter is the day that someone hears a sermon, reads a verse, remembers a word spoken to them by a parent, a friend, a relative, even a stranger – and decides to commit his or her life to the Lord. The day that I encountered Christ is the day that I decided to lay down my burden, exchanging yokes – giving Him mine and taking His upon myself. On that day, the angels must have remembered – and re-sung – their song: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” (Luke 2:14.)
Suddenly, instead of the winter, there was the warm summer glow. Instead of ice, my heart melted and was filled with love. Everything seemed brighter, better, more peaceful and joyful. It was beautiful. I did not have to hear literal music – for in my spirit, there was a song, and I danced to it. There was a holy fire in my spirit – I wanted to tell everyone about Jesus. I wanted to stop everything and spread the Gospel.
I felt that the Lord was mine, I was His, and I knew that it would forever be so.
However, I was not very faithful. After promising to devote my all to Him, I slowly began to stray. The honeymoon ended and was replaced with trial and tribulation. I was being shifted out of my comfort-zone. I wanted to go back to the old, “more-enjoyable” way of life. The fire in me slowly seemed to burn smaller and smaller, until it was just a distant glow.
I began to give God the “lastfruits” of my resources. I would spend my time on things I wanted to do, and then go to Him afterward. I would spend my money on myself, and give Him the change. I was no longer as faithful as before in going to church, participating in activities that I enjoyed, that glorified Him.
God had blessed me immensely, but I became complacent, ungrateful, took Him for granted. And it was at that point that He brought my attention back to Himself.
Practical Application: The Holy Spirit that chastises and convicts me of sin, or “tears” me, to use the verse in the Word for today, is the same Holy Spirit Who comforts me – or “binds” up my wounds. God is my Father, and He does everything out of love. If I return to Him, He will heal me – if He did not chastise me, then I would be a bastard, and not a true child of His. The realization of my sin may be a painful stage in my life, but God will bind up my wounds and heal me. And so today, this week, I return to Him, wholeheartedly.
Memory Verse: I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love (Rev 2:4).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Your Word tells me to return to You, and this is what I will do. I ask that You forgive me for any way in which I may have strayed from Your presence: in my thoughts, in my words, in my actions. I say with Spurgeon:
Lord, after You have so richly blessed us, will we be ungrateful and become indifferent to Your good cause and work? Quicken us so that we may return to our first love and do our first works! Sun of Righteousness, send us a refreshing spring.
In Jesus’ Name I humbly ask it – Amen.
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