Zechariah 1:3: “Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the LORD of hosts.'”

December 12th, 2021 by Pastor Ed in devotional

After 70 years of slavery in Babylon for ignoring His word, God brought His people back to Jerusalem, and gave them this beautiful promise: “Return to Me, and I will return to you.” God didn’t just want them to return physically to the Land, but to return spiritually to Him as well. This promise still stands for every believer, right down to our day.

Father God does not play games. He is not capricious, arbitrary, erratic, or unpredictable with us. If we will turn to Him, take time to seek Him, He promises that He will respond to us. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28, NASB). James says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). James was not talking primarily about drawing near to God in salvation but in fellowship. We cannot expect to have fellowship with a holy God if our own hearts are unclean. But He has made it very easy for us to have clean hearts: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

The gifted, British journalist Malcolm Muggeridge was an agnostic for most of his life. He was long interested in Christianity but was too caught up in a sinful lifestyle; however, slowly, over time he turned to the Lord, believing in Jesus Christ and the truth of the Gospel. By the end of his life, his focus had changed drastically. He said, “All I have cared about is the living presence of Christ; the life He lived, and the death He died; and the unique salvation He offers to a distracted world today.”

“LORD, we again turn away from our sin and seek to draw near to You this day, in Jesus’ name.”