The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Zechariah 1:3,
"Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the Lord Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the Lord Almighty."
Here we read the same thing as that in Malachi 3:7, "'Return to me, and I will return to you,' says the Lord Almighty." Malachi 3:7. It is clearly the Lord's desire his people not drift from him, however, the Lord leaves it in the hands of his people. If the Lord's people will return to him, he will reciprocate.
It brings to my mind what James had to say, "Come near to God and he will come near to you." James 4:8a. Where the statement is made in Zechariah and Malachi, both are addressed to the Lord's covenant people, Israel. In James the statement is addressed to the church. If God's people would but draw near to him, he will reciprocate by drawing near to his people.
This brings rise to the understanding that the Lord's people may drift from him. Much of the Old Testament has this as its focus, as the nation of Israel had her history of straying from God.
In verse 4, James says of believers within the church, "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." In this context James tells believers to draw near God.
The wonderful news for us believers is that if we find ourselves as having made poor decisions and drifting from the Lord, he will welcome us back with open arms, "Come near to God and he will come near to you." This reflects his patience with us, his forgiveness of us, his love for us, his commitment to us and his faithfulness toward us.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the Lord Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the Lord Almighty."
Here we read the same thing as that in Malachi 3:7, "'Return to me, and I will return to you,' says the Lord Almighty." Malachi 3:7. It is clearly the Lord's desire his people not drift from him, however, the Lord leaves it in the hands of his people. If the Lord's people will return to him, he will reciprocate.
It brings to my mind what James had to say, "Come near to God and he will come near to you." James 4:8a. Where the statement is made in Zechariah and Malachi, both are addressed to the Lord's covenant people, Israel. In James the statement is addressed to the church. If God's people would but draw near to him, he will reciprocate by drawing near to his people.
This brings rise to the understanding that the Lord's people may drift from him. Much of the Old Testament has this as its focus, as the nation of Israel had her history of straying from God.
In verse 4, James says of believers within the church, "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." In this context James tells believers to draw near God.
The wonderful news for us believers is that if we find ourselves as having made poor decisions and drifting from the Lord, he will welcome us back with open arms, "Come near to God and he will come near to you." This reflects his patience with us, his forgiveness of us, his love for us, his commitment to us and his faithfulness toward us.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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