A devotion from Robbie Jent, an Outreach Team Member
Malachi 3:7
7 Yet from the days of your fathers
You have gone away from My ordinances
And have not kept them.
Return to Me, and I will return to you,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
Return to me is the call of God to the Israelites in the passage before us.
Israel had a history of turning from God time and time again even though they had experienced first hand God’s grace and his mighty power!
He called to them to return to him and follow his decrees, they would for a while then they would stray from the path that leads to righteousness.
I wonder how many times we turn from God, in our lives, when all he ever says is COME to me,
And I will give you rest.
I know in my life it seems when things are going really bad that’s when I call on God crying for help,
And when things seem to be going fine or well enough, I have trouble talking with God. I guess I let my flesh get in the way. I got this! I can do this thing! I don’t need any help. I’m a man, I can do it all!
Then trouble comes and I find myself needing help but too self centered to ask for any.
But when I finally humble myself ( 2 Chronicles 7:14-16)
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.
God is faithful to come and heal my heart!
I still have issues to deal with and a price to pay for poor decisions that I made, (without the Lord’s help.)
But I now have him guiding me thru life again instead of doing it myself; we see where that got me,
It got me to a lot of DEAD end roads.
With Christ leading and me following, the only outcome can be nothing short of miraculous!
Look at the last line In BOLD above.
God will be watching over you and I, and his love will be forever around us!!!
Perpetually: means adjective 1. continuing or enduring forever; everlasting. 2. lasting an indefinitely long time: 3. continuing or continued without intermission or interruption
Seeking the Lord prayerfully every day,
Robbie Jent
7 Yet from the days of your fathers
You have gone away from My ordinances
And have not kept them.
Return to Me, and I will return to you,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
Return to me is the call of God to the Israelites in the passage before us.
Israel had a history of turning from God time and time again even though they had experienced first hand God’s grace and his mighty power!
He called to them to return to him and follow his decrees, they would for a while then they would stray from the path that leads to righteousness.
I wonder how many times we turn from God, in our lives, when all he ever says is COME to me,
And I will give you rest.
I know in my life it seems when things are going really bad that’s when I call on God crying for help,
And when things seem to be going fine or well enough, I have trouble talking with God. I guess I let my flesh get in the way. I got this! I can do this thing! I don’t need any help. I’m a man, I can do it all!
Then trouble comes and I find myself needing help but too self centered to ask for any.
But when I finally humble myself ( 2 Chronicles 7:14-16)
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.
God is faithful to come and heal my heart!
I still have issues to deal with and a price to pay for poor decisions that I made, (without the Lord’s help.)
But I now have him guiding me thru life again instead of doing it myself; we see where that got me,
It got me to a lot of DEAD end roads.
With Christ leading and me following, the only outcome can be nothing short of miraculous!
Look at the last line In BOLD above.
God will be watching over you and I, and his love will be forever around us!!!
Perpetually: means adjective 1. continuing or enduring forever; everlasting. 2. lasting an indefinitely long time: 3. continuing or continued without intermission or interruption
Seeking the Lord prayerfully every day,
Robbie Jent
