’Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding.’ ‘Yes, we will come to you, for you are the Lord our God.’
Jeremiah 3:22
Ya’ll, I have a crazy dog named Izzy. We tried to get her trained when she was a puppy and she (and I) got put in time out. Then, the instructor made me be the dog because apparently, I wasn’t getting it. We ended up quitting and it shows. When Izzy sees another dog, she goes crazy, barks like crazy, and turns around in circles. She pulls on the leash, often dragging me along with her, and it is quite embarrassing. I have noticed that people in my neighborhood turn the other way when they see us coming☹ I asked for advice on Facebook and now am putting a pinch collar, harness, and shock collar on her all at the same time! Kidding. Nevertheless, I sure do love her and it’s really difficult to stay mad at her.
This got me thinking about how we often act with God. He is with us, guiding us on a daily basis but we often go the way we want to go according to our plans – which we may think is better at the time but usually comes back to bite us. Maybe He should get us some shock collars?
Much of the Old Testament shows us just how wayward we can be. Starting with Adam and Eve and throughout the Old Testament, we see God’s people who were full of pride and ambition repeatedly be disobedient and wayward. They continually turned to the things of this world rather than God. Yes, some tried to follow the Lord – Abraham, Noah, and Joseph to name a few – but the large majority didn’t. Unfortunately, for most of us, I don’t think much has changed as it relates to our behavior. Again and again, we turn to the things of this world rather than following our Lord.
The good news is that He loves us and waits patiently for us – and welcomes us back home. Luke 15 shares parables about the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. Just as a shepherd will search long into the night for one sheep that has gone astray, so the Lord God rejoices over the salvation of just one lost wayward person. He is merciful and will always welcome us, even when we stray and go our own ways.
Go and shout this message to my people in the countries in the north. Tell them, ‘Come back to me, wayward Israel,’ says the Lord. ‘I will not continue to look on you with displeasure. For I am merciful,’ says the Lord. ‘I will not be angry with you forever.
Jeremiah 3:12
