Returning to God
Memory verse: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another. And all the more, as you see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Christians can encounter times when they lose their intimacy with God. Even the most zealous Christian can find that his love for God has cooled if he is not careful. The drift away from the Lord can be so subtle that you fail to recognize the loss until it is fairly severe. The Scriptures describe some ways you can know whether you are in a right relationship with the Lord or if you have departed:
You no longer hear from God – John 10:27, Deuteronomy 30:17
You lose your joy – John 15:10-11
You do not produce spiritual fruit – John 15:4-5
You no longer have victory in your life – Deuteronomy 28:25, 1 John 5:4-5
How does a break in relationship happen?
Three parables of Jesus in Luke 15 illustrate how. In one parable a sheep is lost (vs 3-7). Sheep typically get lost from the shepherd when they turn aside to distractions. In the second parable a valuable coin is lost (vs 8-10). Generally, valuables are lost through carelessness. No one means to lose something precious. But by not taking precautions, we can misplace even the most valuable possessions. In the third parable a son is lost (vs 11-32). In this story the prodigal son deliberately chose to leave to indulge in a wasteful lifestyle that dishonored his father.
How can we be restored to a right relationship with God?
Scripture promises that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).You confess your sin when you agree with God about the awful nature of your wrong. Confession and repentance go together. When you repent of sin, you turn away from the sin and return to God. When your relationship with God is broken because of sin, agree with Him about your condition and turn from it. Return to God, and He will forgive you and reestablish your relationship with Him. This responding to God’s discipline that results in restoration of life and vitality with the Lord is called revival.
God’s remedy for restored relationship with Him involves humility, prayer, seeking His face (seeking the experience of His presence), and repentance (turning from sin). He promises to hear, forgive sin, and heal the land. When we return to God (and not merely to religious activity), He returns to us in a fresh, close relationship and begins once again to fulfill His purposes for us (see Zech. 1:3; 2 Chron. 15:2). Revival means the life of God returns to our soul. This can happen to an individual, a church, a denomination, or a nation.