021608

February 16, 2008

Return to Me

by Shana Schutte

When I came to Christ, no one warned me that desires for the things of the world could tug so strongly on my heart. I had no idea I would be tempted to worship many other things and stray from the One who is worthy of all my praise.

And no one told me how God would relentlessly chase me in spite of my wanderings.

His persistent pursuit of my heart has amazed me and sometimes brought me to tears.

In Scripture, this same passion for me (and you) is represented in His relationship with Israel, and adulterous nation who served other gods and practiced pagan religions. Like my heart can sometimes be, Israel was unfaithful to a Love that would never let her go.

But God still pursued.

The third chapter of Jeremiah is a beautiful rendition of this chase of love. Four times in fifteen verses, God says, "Return to Me," to his people after they have wandered and "committed adultery" with other loves, or gods.

Only a man who really loves his wife asks her to come back so many times after she has repeatedly cheated on him. This is the kind of love God has for us. It's the kind of love He has for you. If you have recently found a greater love than God, in work, a relationship, money, ambition, possessions, or approval, He is saying, "Return to Me." Heaven holds its breathe and He waits for you to come back home.

There is no criteria for your return, only an honest desire to renew your relationship with Him and a repentant heart. Won't you let Him be your all once again? After all, He is all you really need.

"Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they shall be like wool" (Isaiah 1:18).

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