The Call to Return

Jeremiah 2: ²⁶ “As a thief is disgraced when he is caught,
    so the people of Israel are disgraced—
they, their kings and their officials,
    their priests and their prophets.
²⁷ They say to wood, ‘You are my father,’
    and to stone, ‘You gave me birth.’
They have turned their backs to me
    and not their faces;
yet when they are in trouble, they say,
    ‘Come and save us!’

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Pouting, I said “I will not serve you.” My immaturity said it all. I mean, I was not getting my way no matter how hard I was praying. I was tired of “my” circumstance and I decided that GOD must have been the problem.

• When I tried to leave GOD, it was simply an excuse to go my own way.
• When I tried to ignore GOD, it was simply a justification for my abysmal actions.
• When I tried to blame GOD, it was simply a cover up for what I was doing wrong.

Blame is truly easy to do. Instead of taking responsibilities for “my” actions I look to GOD and say, “What is YOUR problem?” I then try to justify my blame by pointing out to HIM how wrong HE is by not loving me the way I think I should be loved. Fortunately GOD is superior.

• GOD has unlimited love for me so HE accepts my return to HIM.
• GOD has endless belief in me so HE receives my return when I believe in HIM.
• GOD has infinite faith in me so HE receives my return when I put my trust in HIM.

Returning to GOD is a must. HE stays right where HE is until I realize that “I” am the problem, not HIM. HE wants me to turn my face towards HIM as I did in my youth. HE wants my childlike trust instead of matured blame and doubt. When I place my full trust in GOD, HE has never disappointed me. When I say “Come save me” HE is there ungrudgingly.

• Are you blaming?
• Do you think GOD or someone else is “the problem?”
• Can you open your eyes and recognize the need to turn your face to GOD?
• Will you grow up and see the immaturity of your relationship with GOD?

HE is Calling You

Jeremiah 1: ⁴ The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

⁵ “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
    before you were born I set you apart;
    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

⁶ “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”

⁷ But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. ⁸ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

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¹⁶ I will pronounce my judgments on my people
    because of their wickedness in forsaking me,
in burning incense to other gods
    and in worshiping what their hands have made.

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“Teach MY people” was the overwhelming desire that came over me. I felt this sensation to teach about GOD, but I had not read the Bible. How in the world was I qualified to “teach?” I asked.

• Sometimes when I am called I do not want to answer.
• Sometimes when I am called I make up all kinds of excuses.
• Sometimes when I am called I think of ways to get out of my calling.

Putting GOD in a box means I can only see what I can see. If HE is inside a box, then I cannot see HIS wonderful power working inside of me. I also cannot see the wrong things I am doing. “The Man Upstairs” or “The Universe” are labels I can put on GOD to make HIM useless, unattached and uncaring. BUT GOD wants a different kind of relationship with me.

• GOD wants me to talk about HIS word no matter what knowledge level I have.
• GOD wants me to speak about HIS SON to bring everyone HE sends me back to HIM.
• GOD wants me to tell people about HIS word no matter how difficult the words may be.

When GOD calls me I should answer. HIS route is usually more difficult, more embarrassing and one that I would not have taken. BUT GOD blesses me each time I choose HIS way. HE opens my eyes to my own sins meanwhile consecrating me to do HIS bidding. HE blesses each step and carries me to the finish line. GOD has a wonderful plan for me!

• Are you turning away from GOD?
• Are you making up excuses?
• Will you allow GOD to change your life for HIM?

Make HIM Bigger

Isaiah 66: This is what the Lord says:

“Heaven is my throne,
    and the earth is my footstool.
Where is the house you will build for me?
    Where will my resting place be?
² Has not my hand made all these things,
    and so they came into being?”
declares the Lord.

“These are the ones I look on with favor:
    those who are humble and contrite in spirit,
    and who tremble at my word.

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Searching all over the house, I could not find my keys. I said a quick prayer “LORD help me” and in a moment I got a thought to look on the side of the bed and there they were. Another time, I could not get a bolt off of the car I was fixing. “LORD help me” were my words and soon the bolt eased its stubbornness and subsided. But when a large problem occurred I said “I wonder if I should even pray.”

• There were times when I thought GOD was small.
• There were times when I thought GOD was nothing but a punisher.
• There were times when I thought GOD was the “Man Upstairs” not paying attention to my needs.

Relegating GOD only to small tasks of finding keys or helping me fix a car or turning off the oven when I left to go to work became the norm. My faith in GOD soon followed. I did not believe HE could solve large problems because I never gave HIM the chance. BUT GOD was graceful to me.

• GOD placed me in situations where I had to trust HIM and HE did what HE said.
• GOD put me in circumstances where I had to believe only in HIM because there was nowhere to turn.
• GOD sent me to places where it was only me and HIM and I had to see that I was never alone.

Once I realized that GOD could never be contained in a building I soon saw how BIG HE truly is. HE is the GOD of the heavens and the earth. HE has all power and is everywhere. HE knows all, sees all and is in all, yet HE is concerned about finding my keys as well as any large issue I face. All HE wants from me is to love HIM through understanding HIS ways in HIS Word. That is humbling.

• Are you making GOD small by not asking HIM to meet or exceed your needs?
• Will you allow HIM to meet your needs in HIS time?
• Can you open your eyes around you and see just how large HE truly is?
• Will you allow HIM to grow you?

Future Bright with Joy and Delight

Isaiah 65: ¹⁷ “See, I will create
    new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
    nor will they come to mind.
¹⁸ But be glad and rejoice forever
    in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight
    and its people a joy.
¹⁹ I will rejoice over Jerusalem
    and take delight in my people;
the sound of weeping and of crying
    will be heard in it no more.

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“Start on the bottom with both hands grasping a sponge. Edge the board to the top and proceed across, then down the other side. Rinse your sponges, wring them out until damp and go across the board until reaching the bottom.” These were the instructions of washing a chalkboard during my janitor days. After following these instructions, I had a “clean slate” in each room.

• GOD says to me “I will create new heavens and a new earth.”
• GOD says to me “The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.”
• GOD says to me “I will delight in MY people, the sound of weeping and crying will be heard in it no more.”

GOD reaches HIS hand out to me on a daily basis even though HE despises my sin. HE loves me and cares enough for me to erase my past and provide for me a bright future. All the sins that GOD would count against me will be wiped away, like cleaning a chalkboard.

• ALL of my sins are forgiven by GOD because I believe in the Risen SON.
• There will come a day when I will look back and see nothing but grace from the FATHER.
• One day all of my tears will be wiped away and every sin that has been accounted for will be thrown away.

Joy and delight is the plan GOD has for me. HE tells me to rejoice now because of the wonderful future HE has for me.

• Are you concerned about today’s problems?
• Are you worried about something?
• Can you look towards the future and see that GOD is holding HIS hand out to you to erase the past and provide you with a wondrous life?

Recognizing the Need to Ask

Isaiah 64: ⁶ All of us have become like one who is unclean,
    and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
    and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
⁷ No one calls on your name
    or strives to lay hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us
    and have given us over to our sins.

⁸ Yet you, Lord, are our Father.
    We are the clay, you are the potter;
    we are all the work of your hand.
⁹ Do not be angry beyond measure, Lord;
    do not remember our sins forever.
Oh, look on us, we pray,
    for we are all your people.

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Arriving to perfection is something I strived for. I mean I had dropped off about 85% of the sins I did before, sometimes 90%. I attended church weekly, almost all the time. I read the Bible and gave biblical advice. When stuff around me still fell down I asked “Why?”

• At one time I had false thinking that “I” could be perfect.
• At one time I thought perfection was something to strive for.
• At one time I had the thought that I controlled GOD by my self-declared righteous acts.

Who wants another lesson or a spanking from GOD, not me! I thought that if I were to act “good” then nothing “bad” would happen to me. On the contrary… as soon as I said to GOD “I want to live more for YOU” it seemed like everything started falling apart. Money, fame and relationships disintegrated and I had more questions than answers.

• When I live for GOD I have to realize my righteous acts are coming from a sinful perspective.
• When I live for GOD I must know that perfection is out of my reach but is granted only by HIM.
• When I live for GOD I must recognize the need to “Ask” versus telling HIM what I need.

Assuming I know what I need and placing GOD’s name on it is worse than simply asking HIM and letting HIM dictate my direction. Becoming clay means I allow GOD to mold me in HIS likeness which means HE is allowed to take things away from me HE feels I do not need.

My trust grows as I allow HIM to mold me and shape me daily. I “Ask” that HE comes into my life more and more, erasing sins that I did not know I even had. Asking means I recognize the need for help and that help only comes from GOD.

• Do you feel you can reach perfection?
• Are you “on your way?”
• Can you stop seeking for self-perfection and self-preservation and seek GOD for a change?
• Will you allow HIM to mold you so HE can instill joy, trust and faith in you?

Go Tell It

Isaiah 63: ⁷ I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord,
    the deeds for which he is to be praised,
    according to all the Lord has done for us—
yes, the many good things
    he has done for Israel,
    according to his compassion and many kindnesses.
⁸ He said, “Surely they are my people,
    children who will be true to me”;
    and so he became their Savior.
⁹ In all their distress he too was distressed,
    and the angel of his presence saved them.
In his love and mercy he redeemed them;
    he lifted them up and carried them
    all the days of old.

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Hours and hours seemed to drag on and on. I took up pacing for a hobby while I waited. Finally the dealer came out and I had my new car. I immediately drove it to my friends and told them to get in. They enjoyed that new car smell as I took them for a ride. They enjoyed a mix tape I blasted as we zipped down the road.

• When I have good news I can’t keep it in.
• When I have good news I want to share it.
• When I have good news I want everyone around me to enjoy it.

Life, however, does not always make me want to shout from the mountain top. When problems creep in and the river of pain arises I sometimes want to slip back into the abyss of silence. BUT GOD wants me to do something different.

• GOD wants me to remember what HE has done for me by becoming my Savior.
• GOD wants me to recognize that HE too is distressed when I go through issues.
• GOD wants me to reverberate HIS love, mercy and redemption especially when I am going through troubles.

Of course I will be challenged! Of course I will be tempted! GOD has a delusional enemy who was created and thinks he can take over. BUT GOD has already won! HE paved the way for many and has taken on ALL of my sins. HE picked me up even though I turned away from HIM. HE redeemed me and carried me back to HIM.

• Are you complaining about something to the LORD?
• Have your prayers turned into nothing but complaints about something else that is wrong?
• When is the last time you told someone the GOOD NEWS ABOUT CHRIST?
• Can you take a moment to recognize the depth and breadth of JESUS’ salvation of your soul? 

New Name New Identity

Isaiah 62: For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
    for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet,
till her vindication shines out like the dawn,
    her salvation like a blazing torch.
² The nations will see your vindication,
    and all kings your glory;
you will be called by a new name
    that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.
³ You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand,
    a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
⁴ No longer will they call you Deserted,
    or name your land Desolate.
But you will be called Hephzibah,
    and your land Beulah;
for the Lord will take delight in you,
    and your land will be married.

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“Weakling” was one name the jocks gave me. “Too [insert word]” were the many names the other people gave me. I still remember the names so they must have hurt when people gave them to me. In fact, some of the names made me take a path to clear the name. For “Skinny” I lifted weights until people changed the name to “Muscles” but soon I found no kingdom merit in that name. What name should I seek?

• Sometimes I seek names from other people.
• Sometimes the names other people give me hurt instead of helps.
• Sometimes I may be seeking the wrong name when I should be seeking another name.

“Famous” or “Wealthy” or “Party Animal” were all names I sought after to clear the other names I had been called over the years. After becoming all of the above I received no merit in those names. I was famous at one place and wealthy amongst my peers but my life was pointing to me and had no “fruit.”  GOD wanted me on a new path.

• GOD said to me “Go feed my sheep” which meant I had to have the name of “Teacher” to be ready to feed people from GOD’s word.
• GOD said to me “Pray for the multitudes I send you” which meant I needed the name “Understanding” to be able to reach people of many nations.
• GOD said to me “Forgive them” which meant I had to obtain the name “Gracious” which means pointing all towards the SON instead of pointing them to me.

With a new name came a new identity. I had to walk with GOD as I talked with HIM. I had to actually have faith, not just talk about belief and hiding behind my wealth. If I wanted GOD’s fruit I had to obtain it HIS way, not mine. “Arrogant” had to be exchanged for “Humble”. GOD demanded major changes in my life and I bow to those changes. I have not arrived, but I’m on my way to my new name.

• Are you trying to make a name for yourself?
• Do you want to prove yourself to other people?
• Can you take a step back and seek the name GOD has for you?