Restored

I was reading my bible the other evening and I stumbled across an awesome verse. I love reading different translations because new things can pop out at me that didn't before. This verse did that exact thing - Jeremiah 15:19 (New Living Translation)

19 This is how the Lord responds:

“If you return to me, I will restore you
so you can continue to serve me.
If you speak good words rather than worthless ones,
you will be my spokesman.
You must influence them;
do not let them influence you!

WOW! The idea of being a spokesman for God is amazing! This verse reminds me about how we as Christians are supposed to represent Christ. WE, me - YOU need to influence others and their relationships with the Lord. Non believers can not influence us. Do you know why? Because if we let others influence us we may lose our place in Heaven!! I am definitely not taking that chance!

God restores us. We go on our merry way thinking we can handle it all and how do we end up? We end up Broken. Tired. Defeated.

Think of the prodigal son. He asked his father for his share of the inheritance, took off and partied like a wild man until he found himself wanting to eat out of a pigs' trough. He heads back to his fathers' farm, hoping his father will allow him to work on the farm. Yet when he is walking home, his father sees him and runs to his son. His father embraces him, gives him a robe and a ring and has a big party for his sons' return.

His father restored him to his old place in the family. God does that for us too!! We think we can handle our lives just fine until something happens and we end up on our knees begging God to take us back. Crying and longing for His comfort again and what happens?

He restores us. He accepts us and loves us and holds us close. That is how awesome our God is. I am so thankful for our God who loves us even when we don't deserve it. Glory to our Lord!