Tag Archives: Return

A Day’s Journey Without Jesus

Posted on by under Christian Living

journey     Once upon a time there was a little girl who was left behind at the church building where she grew up.  Both of her parents had driven to the worship service that morning, since her father had a meeting to attend early that morning.  When they left, both assumed that the other had the child with them.  Perhaps something like this has happened to you, and if so, you are in good company.

     Joseph and Mary had traveled to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover when Jesus was just twelve years old (Luke 2:41-42).  When they left, both of them made the assumption that Jesus was with their relatives in the caravan leading back home.  However, after traveling for a day’s journey, they realized that Jesus was not with the company (Luke 2:43-45).  They quickly backtracked and found Jesus three days later in the temple, where He was amazing the learned men with His questions and answers (Luke 2:46).

     We can just imagine the horror of realizing that our child is missing.  Searching high and low for a missing child causes us much anguish and worry for their safety, especially in our day and age.  Both Mary and Joseph were concerned about being without Jesus, even for a day’s journey. “So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, ‘Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously’” (Luke 2:48, NKJV).

     How many of us will journey for a day, or several days, or perhaps even months at a time without Jesus being with us?  Do we become concerned?  Are we anxious because we are not with Him?  God has said that He will never abandon us or leave us, but we have the free will to travel away from Him (Hebrews 13:5; 2:1).  All of the spiritual blessings that God has to offer are to be found in Christ/with Jesus (Ephesians 1:3).  Are we with Him, or are we journeying without Jesus?  If we are going through this life without Him, we need to come back and find Him.  Come and see, and let us help you find Jesus!

Return to Me

Posted on by under Doctrine

1280px-Minnesota_soldier_returns_home     We often rejoice in seeing loved ones return to one another after time away.  Perhaps there was some conflict or estrangement that kept them apart.  Perhaps some grudge that had to be overcome for them to be together again.  Maybe it is the return home of those who have been involved in military duty overseas.  Whatever the reason, there is joy in witnessing their reunion again after being apart.

     We should have the same joy in seeing those who have been estranged from the Lord being reunited to Him.  Often times those who have wandered away from God may feel that they cannot overcome their sinful desires, or that perhaps, God will not forgive them of their transgressions.  Neither of those are the case, however.  God through the writing of Paul makes it abundantly clear that they can be washed clean of their sins if they will repent and return (1 Cor. 6:9-11).

     Many times God was angry with Israel for not obeying His commands.  They refused to remove the inhabitants of Canaan and to destroy their idols, and instead served those foreign gods, offering their children as sacrifices (Psalm 106:34-39).  Therefore, they were given into the hands of their enemies and they were oppressed (Psalm 106:40-42).  Yet each time they cried out to the Lord for deliverance, each time they returned to the Lord, He heard the cries of His people and delivered them out of danger (Psalm 106:43-45).  God delivered them because He wants to be merciful.  If you have wandered away, God also wants to show you mercy and forgiveness.

     In order to get God’s mercy, we need to return to Him.  God promised Israel in times past, “but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name” (Nehemiah 1:9, NKJV).  God makes the same promise to us also.  He does not want any to perish, but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).  Jesus said that when we return, there is much rejoicing.  “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7).

     God wants us to return to Him.  He wants us to be with Him for eternity.  He does not want any to be lost.  If you are willing to repent, He is faithful to forgive (1 John 1:9).  If you have wandered astray, won’t you return to Him now?