There
are times in most of our Christian lives that we turn away from God and drift
back into old ways. In the Old Testament we see this repeatedly in God’s own
chosen people, Israel. But even though we slip we can have hope knowing that
all is not lost, our God is more than willing to take us back even though we
have fallen into spiritual adultery. The Bible is replete with examples of God’s
desire for us to repent and come back to Him and then He will bless us. But
when we fall away God calls us back to Him and often it is through suffering
and tribulation by which we again remember that in Christ is our only hope.
There
is a great story in the Old Testament that speaks to this exact thing. This
morning I was reading chapter 2 of Hosea where we see so clearly the truth of
God’s pursuit of His people. Prior to this scripture reading God has first
charged His people with adultery as they have chosen to give worship and praise
to Baal. Then God sets forth judgment for their sin. But hear the great words
of hope from Hosea
2:14, “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into
the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.”
Notice the three things God declares
He will do.
1. He will allure her. In other words God will not just let His adulterous wife carry on in her sin. God pursues us and calls us back to Him.
2. He will bring her into the
wilderness.
As sad as this is usually in good
times we tend to forget God. Though this should not be, it is too often true.
We get caught up enjoying the fruits of a good life and forget who gave us
these things and who it is we should be thanking. But when God allows us to go through
the storms of life and things seem hopeless or too painful to bear we call out
to Him. America is the greatest example of this in modern history when we as a
nation fell to our knees in prayer after 911. But where are we today? We have
rejected God and turned far from Him. So God will allow us to enter into
seasons of wilderness life so that we remember He is our very life.
3. He will speak comfortably to His
wife.
Even though it was only through
tribulation we called out to God to help us, He brings comfort to us. He will
remind us gently that he loves us and longs to restore us through His great
mercy and grace. He forgives those who cry out in confession. And He does it
over and over and over.
This is the story of repentance.
Have you drifted from God? Have you denied you even know Christ even though
just yesterday you walked with Him? Peter did. But Jesus gently restored and
forgave Peter.
Take time this morning to get on
your knees and ask God to forgive you and restore you. Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Think you’ve fallen too far? You haven’t. Pick up your Bible, dust it off, and
turn to chapter 15 of The Gospel of Luke where you will find three parables in
which Jesus teaches the truth of His mercy, grace, and forgiveness.
God is waiting to hear from you.
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