Join the celebration.
| posted 1/30/2009
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There are more than a few Scripture passages that tell of God's great joy when one of his children turns away from a life of sin and comes back to life with God. Many of the stories Jesus told revolve around the theme of the lost being found (for example, the stories of the lost son and the lost coin in Luke 15). But here in Isaiah is one of the Bible's most vivid images of God's delight in welcoming back his people.
When you turn away from God, you may do so because you don't feel his presence in your life, or because you're plagued with doubts about his power to act on your behalf. When you finally feel ready to come back to God, you wonder if he'll take you in. You wonder what your punishment will be for rejecting God.
But this passage is a reminder that God not only is willing to take you back, he's waiting for you to return to him (55:6). And when you do, all of creation celebrates your return (55:12). What a beautiful picture of God's love! You'll find mercy where you expected punishment, joy where you expected anger, and freedom where you expected judgment. When you return your broken life to God, he's more than ready to make you whole again. (See also Lamentations 3:31-40; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Hosea 3; Joel 2:25-27; 1 John 1:8-2.)
Good Words to Remember:
You shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12
Today's Challenge:
Are you ready to turn your broken life over to God?
Copyright 2001 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Bible Studies.
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