“Return To The LORD!”

“Return To The LORD!”(Jer.4:1-4).
The last of the seven blessings to Abraham when God called him reads, “And all peoples of the earth will be blessed through you”(Gen.12:3c). This promise runs down Abram’s bloodline through to Israel as a nation.
Abraham – by extension to Israel – is therefore like a reservoir where water from a source is gathered for distribution in the town from which all the town dwellers benefit.
The reservoir has to be properly cared for so that the water that it gathers is not contaminated. Because contamination would be calamitous to the population.
From the Jeremiah text above, Israel as a reservoir has become dirty, thus having the risk of distributing contaminated water.
They have wandered away from the presence of God and have turned to detestable idols which has provoked the anger of the LORD. As such, the nations cannot have the expected blessings.
How does this relate to us here and now? Paul refers to the followers of Christ as “the Israel of God”(Gal.6:16). Those who belong to Christ “are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise”(Gal.3:29).
Therefore, we are the New Israel of God, and so this message is directed to us:
“If you return, O Israel…If you put your detestable idols out of my sight and no longer go astray, and if in a truthful, just and righteous way you swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, then the nations will be blessed by him…Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, Circumcise your hearts, you men of Judah and people of Jerusalem…”
Grace and mercy is beckoning that we return to the LORD, put away detestable idols and circumcise our hearts so that the Saviour can through us reach the yet unreached.
Prayer: Dear LORD, make us veritable reservoirs from where uncontaminated water flows. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.