Day 2 - Returns Welcome

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

We all know the routine. We watch it every year. People search long and hard for the right gift. Americans spent more than 11 billion dollars in 2011 on black Friday alone. The sad thing is that many of those gifts will end up being returned. Why? Maybe they simply needed a different size. Maybe the gift was broken. Or, maybe they just didn’t want it. Whatever the reason, the gift is traded in for something of greater value to the owner. 

In Luke 15 we read what is probably the most recognized story about how God welcomes back those who have wandered away. In verse 20 it says that the father saw his son when he was still a long way off and was filled with joy. He actually ran out to meet his son. The son came back in humility and asked for forgiveness. Can you imagine how the son felt when he was greeted with a hug, kiss and a “welcome home” party? I’m sure he was concerned about how his father would receive him. His plan was to be accepted as a servant. Instead, he was welcomed as a son.  

You see, every day we have the tendency to wander away from God. Our sinful nature is constantly at war within us. That is why we do the things that we don’t want to do and we don’t do the things that we want to do. The further we wander away from God, the more hopeless we become. Eventually, we have to “return”. We have to bring back all of the “stuff” in our lives and allow God to replace them with His perfect gifts.  

When we take things back to the store, someone usually checks to make sure the item(s) are not broken. If so, they may deny the return.  With God, the more broken we “return”, the better. Return today.  

Pray—God, I am sorry that I continue to wander from you. I keep on trusting in my own knowledge to get through this life; therefore, I keep on falling. I realize that nothing can bring peace to my life unless you are the giver. Today, I choose to return to the One who gave His one and only son for me. I repent and ask for your forgiveness. Thank you for welcoming me back home. Amen.

Blogged by Pastor Chip Leake