Backsliding. It happens to many of us, some slide way way back, others just slip a little. Sometimes it last only a couple of days, others go years before they get back on the right path. Mom jotted some Scriptures in her journal to counter this tendency in our lives. I will share them with you, my readers, as was her desire.
Jeremiah5:6 Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them, a wolf from the desert will ravage them, a leopard will lie in wait near their towns to tear to pieces any who venture out, for their rebellion is great and their backslidings many.
Backsliding: (noun) turning back, turning away, defecting, faithlessness, apostasy, disloyalty, reverting
(verb) root word is shub--turn, return or repent.
God's invitation to the backslider: Requires healing.
Jeremiah 3:12-15, 22 Go, proclaim this message toward the north: "Return, faithless Israel," declares the Lord, "I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful," declares the Lord, "I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt--you have rebelled against the Lord your God, you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree and have not obeyed me," declares the Lord. "Return, faithless people," declares the Lord, "for I am you husband. I will choose you--one from a town and two from a clan--and bring you to Zion. Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart who will lead you with knowledge and understanding."
v22 "Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding."
From the Word Wealth on Jeremiah 5:6 (this is from the Spirit-filled Bible)....The root word is shub, a verb which means to "turn, return or repent." If repentance is a turning around, backsliding is a "turning back" or "turning away" from God. God gave a merciful invitation to the backslider in Jer 3:12-15,22. In this latter verse, God regards backsliding as a condition that requires healing.
Psalm 32:1-7 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is not deceit. When I kept silent my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord"--and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to You while You may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Luke 15:1-7 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Then Jesus told them this parable:
.Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, "Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep." I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over the one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous who do not need to repent.
From me:
Backsliding. I've done it. I am so grateful that I have a merciful God who is willing and able to heal me, no matter how far I go, or how long I stay away. If you've been away from the Lord for a time, He's calling to you now to come home, come back to His arms. He has your healing, His desire is for you. We all like sheep have gone astray. But He searches for the one. That one has been all of us at one time or another. Guilt and shame fade away in the light of his love and forgiveness. Don't stay away another minute. This is His personal invitation, His "neon" sign to you. Come home child, I long to spend time with you, to heal you and to love you to wholeness.
Lord, thank you. You are merciful. I don't know who You are talking to right now, but I pray for them that they will respond to Your call. And Lord, keep us, keep us close to Your side that we may not fall away. Thank You for Your love that is always there, always ready to forgive. Amen
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