Tag: return to God

Return to the Lord Almighty

Zechariah 1-5

Devotion by Carla Hardy (Michigan)

We spent yesterday with Haggai urging the Israelites to obey God with a pure heart and focus on His coming Kingdom. Zechariah, another minor prophet, does something similar, encouraging the Israelites to rebuild the temple. 

Here again, the Israelites are discouraged. Zechariah challenges them to not be like their ancestors, rebellious and disobedient. He reminds them that if they turn back to God, He will be with them. “Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Zech. 1:3)

Zechariah has a series of God-brought nighttime visions, solidifying His promises to restore and protect His people and the city of Jerusalem, and to bring the promise of the Messiah to fruition. 

Today, visions and dreams from God are far less common, or even do not occur at all, depending on one’s interpretation of the Word. We can’t expect God to give us clear visions while we sleep, but what we can do is remember that He left us his Word, which is 66 books of His goodness, His plans and His promises. Within these pages you’ll find the assurance that God is with us, that He promises to never leave us. He urges us to return to Him, and there we will find Him. Just like Zechariah encouraged the Israelites, so God encourages us. 

Reflection Questions:

  1. Have you ever experienced a vision? Or, recall a time when Scripture spoke to you so strongly that it was as a vision. 
  2. Has there been a time in your life where you rebelled or were disobedient? What happened when you returned back to God?
  3. What is your favorite promise from God? Reflect on that today. 
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Because He Loves

Amos 4-6

amos 4

Friday, April 14

Words I hope I never hear from God:   “…yet you have not returned to me.”

“I gave you empty stomachs in every city
    and lack of bread in every town,
    yet you have not returned to me,”
declares the Lord.

“I also withheld rain from you
    when the harvest was still three months away.
I sent rain on one town,
    but withheld it from another.
One field had rain;
    another had none and dried up.

People staggered from town to town for water
    but did not get enough to drink,
    yet you have not returned to me,”
declares the Lord.

“Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards,
    destroying them with blight and mildew.
Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees,
    yet you have not returned to me,”
declares the Lord.

“I sent plagues among you
    as I did to Egypt.
I killed your young men with the sword,
    along with your captured horses.
I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps,
    yet you have not returned to me,”
declares the Lord.

“I overthrew some of you
    as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire,
    yet you have not returned to me,”  (Amos 4:6-11)

 

All children are different, you know.  Some are brought to repentance with simply a stern look.  Others, you could beat them with a stick (not that you would, of course) and they would still dig their heels in.

 

I remember a mother in my Women’s Bible Study years ago pray every single week for wisdom for herself and her husband to be able to mold their daughter’s strong spirit into a passion for God instead of a selfish passion.  She prayed for this child to grow to be a force to be reckoned with on behalf of God’s Kingdom.  And you know what, that is exactly what happened.

 

I feel like that’s what we’re seeing in this passage.  Each stanza is a punishment.

I gave you empty stomachs … stern look

I withheld rain … time out

I sent plagues … swat

…you get the picture.

 

Yet time and again, they stubbornly ignore and refuse to return to God and obey.

 

As we learned yesterday, God disciplines us because he loves us.  Keep your eyes open today for God’s discipline in your life.  What is He doing to get our attention and call you back to Him?  Pray that when you see His discipline, that you have the courage to act on it.  And you will become a force to be reckoned with for His Kingdom.

-Susan Landry