The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 16 August 2019 – Return to the Lord and be Healed

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TOPIC: Return to the Lord and be Healed

READ: Jeremiah 3:19-25 King James Version (KJV)

19 “But I said: ‘How can I put you among the children And give you a pleasant land, A beautiful heritage of the hosts of nations?’ “And I said: ‘You shall call Me, “My Father,” And not turn away from Me.’

20 Surely, as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, So have you dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel,” says the Lord.

21 A voice was heard on the desolate heights, Weeping and supplications of the children of Israel. For they have perverted their way; They have forgotten the Lord their God.

22 “Return, you backsliding children, And I will heal your backslidings.” “Indeed we do come to You, For You are the Lord our God.

23 Truly, in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, And from the multitude of mountains; Truly, in the Lord our God Is the salvation of Israel.

24 For shame has devoured The labor of our fathers from our youth— Their flocks and their herds, Their sons and their daughters.

25 We lie down in our shame, And our reproach covers us. For we have sinned against the Lord our God, We and our fathers, From our youth even to this day, And have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.”

THE MESSAGE:

God chose the Israelites from among all the other nations, to be His special people. He gave them the Law through His prophet Moses, to guide their practices, governance and religious life. Unfortunately, the people of Israel refused to observe or keep the Law. Their idolatrous inclination was likened to a wife that departs from her husband to another man.

As a result of Israel’s insubordination, God allowed her to suffer mishaps and even to be taken into captivity in a foreign land. Yet, He promised to forgive them and heal their land when they repented and returned to Him (2 Chronicles 7:14).

What a unique privilege and purpose for Israel!

According to 1 Peter 2:9, the Bible says But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people. You can clearly understand that Christians are like the Israelites of the Old Testament before God.

And just like the people of Israel, many Christians have rebelled against God, forsaking Him for other gods. These Christians worship sports, music, wealth, human knowledge, science and arts, etc., instead of the living God.

As a result of this, God has allowed the enemy to afflict and torment His very own through wicked leaders and associated sufferings. Yet if the Christians will repent and return to God, He will surely forgive and heal them as He promised and did to Israel.

PRAYER: Lord, reveal to us our emptiness without You, and cause us to sincerely repent of our idolatry and return to You and be healed. Amen.