Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/…/r…/thoughts-in-worship-01-17-2018
This is devotional thought number 52 in our devotional series, God’s Promises are Sure!
“He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3).
God loves you. He loves you, not because you have been good to Him or you’ve done something to impress Him. He loves you because it’s in His nature to love, and He created you for His glory and eternal companionship.
Restoration Explained
Notice what the Bible says: “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:1–6, NLT).
This is how the Old Testament makes a similar point: “The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations” (Deuteronomy 7:7–9).
Restoration Planned
Now that we have made it clear that God loves you, we can take it a step further. Since we have done a number on ourselves by choosing to sin, the One who loves us dearly enacted the restoration plan because He is righteous.
Do note the principle of God restoring us for His name’s sake. What does that even mean?
Before we get to that, read this similar reference: “For thou art my rock and my fortress; Therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me” (Psalm 31:3).
The Lord is gracious enough to protect and guide us as He continues the work of restoration. He keeps us safe (spiritually) as He transfers us from the kingdom of darkness where we had no choice but to do wickedly, into the kingdom of light where we receive power from the Spirit to please Him in all things (just like Jesus).
Restoration Now
He does all this because He loves us, and for the sake of manifesting His honor, reputation, and character. He promised that He would restore all who surrender to Him. For the sake of His good name, He pledges to do just that and make of us a holy nation and a royal people who have been called out of darkness into His marvelous light.
God never comes up short on His promises. Submit to Him and watch Him do wondrous works in your life. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.
