Jeremiah 3:14

Jeremiah 3:14: “Return, O faithless children, declares the Lord; for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.”

Forgiveness and restoration are at the core of who God is. If you’ve ever wandered and come back, you know this to be true. The key is coming back! Don’t let guilt and shame keep you from repenting and returning to God. He is faithful to forgive and restore.

Jeremiah is speaking to a wayward nation about returning to God. Both the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah) had, as it were, “played the whore” and been unfaithful to God. The imagery is vivid. And yet, God both invites and commands them to return to Him. He promises to forgive and restore them when they do.  His promise is to regather His people and renew them.

Have you wandered from God? Sometimes the hardest thing to do is come back. We often imagine that God is like us—willing to forgive, but not forget. Not true! The Bible says He casts our sins as far as the east is from the west and remembers them no more (Psalm 103:12). Return to Him today. He is waiting with open arms. He longs to restore you. So, what are you waiting for? Repent and return to your God. Amen?

Father, we thank You that You are always ready to forgive and restore. Take our sins and cast them into the sea of forgetfulness, remembering them no more. Give us hearts of humility that take responsibility and return to You always. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.