Tag: return to God

February 21, 2024 Devotional Post a Comment

The Danger of Forgetting God

Opening Verse

“For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.” – 2 Chronicles 33:3, KJV

Introduction

In life, it’s easy to stray from the path that leads to light and truth. Much like Manasseh, we might find ourselves building up things that take us away from God, chasing after what seems appealing but ultimately leads us away from true peace and happiness.

Devotional Story

Consider a young man, filled with ambition and dreams, who starts to believe that success and happiness come from wealth, power, or popularity. He pours his energy into achieving these, neglecting his spiritual life, much like Manasseh did by turning to other gods and away from the Lord. But deep down, there’s a feeling of emptiness, a whisper that something crucial is missing.

What This Means

Manasseh’s story is a powerful reminder that no matter how far we stray, the road back to God is always open. It’s a call to examine our lives, to see what “altars” we’ve built that lead us away from Him, and to remember that genuine peace and fulfillment come from walking with God, not from the things of this world.

Think About This

Have you built “high places” in your life that need tearing down? Are there things you’ve put before your relationship with God that have led you away from Him?

Prayer

Dear Lord, help us to recognize the “altars” we’ve built in our lives that lead us away from You. Give us the strength to tear them down and return to Your path, knowing that true happiness and peace come from You alone. Amen.

Closing Verse

“But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” – Deuteronomy 4:29, KJV

October 11, 2023 Devotional Post a Comment

Return to Eden

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7, KJV)

Introduction

Mark, a seeker of truth and wisdom, discovered a profound lesson about discernment, foundational faith, and the eternal desire to return to a state of pure fellowship with God, as witnessed in the pristine communion of Eden. His narrative weaves a tale that connects the vitality of discernment with the aspiration to nurture a pure, unadulterated relationship with the Creator.

Devotional Story

While traversing through a village, known for its devout spirituality, Mark was welcomed by its inhabitants to partake in a sacred ceremony, meant to invoke divine strength through star-shaped crystals and an ancient chant. The atmosphere was imbued with a fervent yet serene spirituality, but amidst the apparent devotion, Mark felt a disquieting reservation within his spirit.

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7, KJV)

Choosing to honor the subtle yet persistent voice of discernment, Mark abstained from participating. A revered couple, beloved by the villagers, encouraged him to join, speaking of abundant blessings that followed the ritual. But Mark, anchored in his understanding of Scripture, gently expressed his concerns.

He spoke of Eden, the divine garden where God and man walked together in unblemished fellowship, with no need for mediators or material conduits to access His divine presence.

“In the garden, Adam and Eve knew God intimately and directly. The purity of their worship and communion with Him was not routed through rituals or objects but was a direct, sincere, and unblemished connection,” Mark shared with gentle conviction.

“And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8, KJV)

His words, seeded in the hearts of some villagers, began to gently alter the spiritual landscape of the community. A return to a simpler, purer faith, reminiscent of the untainted fellowship witnessed in Eden, began to sprout, gradually redirecting their spiritual practices towards a direct and sincere worship of God.

Conclusion

Mark’s journey is a reminder to steadfastly uphold the purity of our faith, safeguarding it from practices that, while seemingly spiritual, may subtly divert our focus and reliance away from God. His longing to return to an Eden-like fellowship with God, where worship is direct, authentic, and untainted by additional rituals or objects, calls us to introspectively examine our own spiritual walk.

This devotional story invites us to consistently seek a return to the metaphorical Eden, where our relationship with God is primary, pure, and unmediated. In our spiritual practices, may we perpetually strive to walk with God in a garden of sincerity, ensuring that our worship, beliefs, and spiritual expressions remain perpetually aligned with His Word and His nature.

“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” (John 4:23, KJV)