“If you will return, O Israel,” declares the Lord, “Then you should return to Me. And if you will put away your detested things from My presence, And will not waver, And you will swear, ‘As the Lord lives,’ In truth, in justice and in righteousness; Then the nations will bless themselves in Him, And in Him they will glory.” (vv.1-2)
Our passage today includes God’s plea for His people to repent. But they refused, and now destruction is coming. Had they only repented in truth and righteousness “the nations would have been blessed in Him and in God they would glory (v.2). Instead, the prophet urges this unrepentant people on the brink of disaster to “put on sackcloth, lament and wail” (v.8).
How often do we as Christians, by refusing to repent, miss out on what God had planned for us? Or, how often do we see others who have sinned and are facing terrible consequences, but will not turn from their sin and repent. In the coming weeks as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our savior, may we consider this, are we moving toward Him or away from Him? If you are finding it is the latter, repent, and return to Him. He is waiting to forgive.
The little choices we must make, will chart the course of life we take;
We either choose the path of right, or wander off without God's light. (DJD)
The Truth: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” (Acts 3:19)
Our passage today includes God’s plea for His people to repent. But they refused, and now destruction is coming. Had they only repented in truth and righteousness “the nations would have been blessed in Him and in God they would glory (v.2). Instead, the prophet urges this unrepentant people on the brink of disaster to “put on sackcloth, lament and wail” (v.8).
How often do we as Christians, by refusing to repent, miss out on what God had planned for us? Or, how often do we see others who have sinned and are facing terrible consequences, but will not turn from their sin and repent. In the coming weeks as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our savior, may we consider this, are we moving toward Him or away from Him? If you are finding it is the latter, repent, and return to Him. He is waiting to forgive.
The little choices we must make, will chart the course of life we take;
We either choose the path of right, or wander off without God's light. (DJD)
The Truth: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” (Acts 3:19)
