2 Chronicles 30:6-9

This was a comprehensive invitation. The couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king… (6). God’s arms are thrown wide to embrace all who will come to His party.

At heart, the message was, ‘Get back!’ ‘Get back to where you once belonged!’

People of Israel, return to the LORD…that he may return to you… (6b)…If you return to the LORD… (9a)…He will not turn his face from you if you return to him (9b).

In today’s passage there is this positive invitation along with a promise (9): If you return…then… Coming back to God will have healthy, life-giving consequences.

But there is also a negative warning (7, 8): If we stay away from God there will also be consequences, and these will not be good.

Don’t repeat the sins of your ancestors who turned their backs on GOD, the God of their ancestors who then brought them to ruin – you can see the ruins all around you. Don’t be pigheaded as your ancestors were. Clasp GOD’s outstretched hand. Come to his Temple of holy worship, consecrated for all time. Serve GOD, your God. You’ll no longer be in danger of his hot anger. The Message.

Who was it who said that, ‘The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history’? Throughout the Bible story God’s people repeatedly tripped over the same rock in the road; stumbled into the identical ditch. As we read Scripture let’s look for commands to obey, examples to follow and promises to believe. But also our eyes should be wide open searching for warnings to heed. Here is one of them.

It may be that as you read these words you know that in some sense you need to ‘get back to where you once belonged.’ You have drifted far out to sea; you have moved well away from your moorings in God. Perhaps there is a ‘prodigal’ somewhere, sitting in some ‘pig-sty’. You have tried the ‘pig food’ and you know it doesn’t satisfy. But in your heart you are hearing the call of Father and home. You know that such a welcome will await you there. Why linger any longer?

Your GOD is gracious and kind and won’t snub you – come back and he’ll welcome you with open arms (9b). The Message.

If you genuinely and sincerely return to Him (and He knows whether you mean it or not) He will return to you.

Prayer: Take me back dear Lord to the place where I first met you – to the place where I first believed.