Return to God
“1 “If you, Israel, will return,
then return to me,”
declares the Lord.
“If you put your detestable idols out of my sight
and no longer go astray,
2 and if in a truthful, just and righteous way
you swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’
then the nations will invoke blessings by him
and in him they will boast.”
3 This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem:
“Break up your unplowed ground
and do not sow among thorns.
4 Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,
circumcise your hearts,
you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire
because of the evil you have done—
burn with no one to quench it.”
The Book of Jeremiah revolves around the period before and after the Babylonian exile of Judah, delivering the message for the people of Israel to return to God. The core message of the Bible, the Law, and the prophets is to return to God. The essence of faith lies in restoring our relationship with God. This is the starting point and goal of our faith. Acts of justice, love, and evangelism are all based on the process and purpose of returning to God.
In Jeremiah 4:1, God says to Israel, “If you, Israel, will return, then return to me,” The call to return to God in the Bible demands a deeper repentance, which is different from simple reflection. Reflection is an important human ability, allowing us to look back on our wrong actions and correct them. However, true repentance goes beyond merely changing one’s behavior; it is a deep spiritual transformation that restores our relationship with God.
Repentance involves realizing that we have strayed from God's heart or have not recognized Him as Lord and returning to Him. In the parable of the prodigal son, the son realizes his wrong life and confesses, "I have sinned against heaven and against you," deciding to return to his father. This demonstrates the essence of true repentance, which is not just a change of life but an acknowledgment of sin before God and a return to Him.
In our scripture, the metaphor of "circumcising your hearts" emphasizes inner renewal and restoration. Jesus came not just to confirm righteousness through the outward observance of the law but to renew our inner being. The work of Jesus Christ on the cross completes this restoration, and through the Holy Spirit, our inner selves are made new, so we fully acknowledge God and live lives that follow His will. In our daily lives, we must remember that our fundamental mission is to confess Christ as our Savior and to live out His will.
Prayer: Lord, this morning, grant us the grace to renew our inner selves. Let us deeply inscribe in our hearts Your call to "return to me." Guide us not to pursue mere minor adjustments in our lives but to return fully to You, centering our hearts on You and praising Your glory. Through the presence of the Holy Spirit, circumcise our hearts and let Your renewing work fill our lives abundantly. Amen.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)
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