11/02/2021
When we who have been lost, or have wandered astray, turn back to the Lord, He reestablishes us in our faith. Every day the ground in which that faith is rooted becomes richer through the application of His Word that fertilizes it, and through His love which fills our lives with His goodness and mercy. He pours himself out like a gentle rain to nourish us through His grace which flows like living water through Jesus Christ, and by the understanding of His will for us that His Holy Spirit gives. When we look about us we see a broken world that is lost, but the Lord has been waiting patiently for us to sow the seeds of righteousness within it, and to turn its wayward inhabitants back towards Him by pulling at their leads. Are we ready to stop wringing our hands in despair, and start breaking ground? It is time for all believers to begin sowing the seeds of the gospel of Jesus once more.
“Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.”
Hosea 10:12 ESV
Satan would have us believe that we have gone past the point of no return, but our Lord is merciful beyond our ability to imagine. He has returned Israel to Himself when her people worshiped idols, and after they sacrificed their children to pagan gods. He mercifully held His hand when Moses came down from the mountain aglow with His glory, only to find a golden calf had been cast in his absence. So what have we done, or how far has this world strayed, that He won’t reach out to us, forgive us, and restore us? But the remnant that has remained faithful, and righteous, must get busy and break up the fallow ground, and sow the new seed of Jesus. If we will do this then God will come, and bring righteousness to rain upon it… His Word will bring life back to the soil of our faith.
“if my people who are called by my name 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.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV
It is time to pray all the more fervently for our land, our countries, and this world, then to get off our knees, and begin the hard work of toiling side by side with God to break the ground, and sow the seeds of the gospel. Now is the time to seek the Lord’s forgiveness, call on Him to heal our land, and to ask His help as we struggle to return the world’s focus, and all glory, to him through Christ.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all . heart.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the patience you show your people when they have turned from you. Thank you Lord for continuing to call out to us, and to instruct us in how we are to return to you. Merciful are you who put the rainbow in the sky as a promise that you would not destroy us in that fashion again, but help us to see that your wrath remains alive, and that we must seek your forgiveness. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God, who loves us and has given your only begotten Son to redeem us. Merciful are you who waits with amazing patience to hear us praise you, and to love you as we return to worship you with an undying faith. Help us Lord God, to turn once more towards you, and heal our land. Wash us clean in the blood of Jesus, and seat us, your children, beside you for all eternity. Feed us the bread, and give us the wine of the new covenant forevermore, and we will glorify you always.
“Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.””
Psalm 27:7-8 ESV
Rich Forbes