Speaker: Rick Enloe
Theme: The Great Comeback
Weekend Music links on iTunes: All Over the World by Matt Redman; My Savior Lives by New Life Worship; You'll Come by Hillsong United; To the Ends of the Earth by Hillsong.
Read: I Peter 5: 10
Think: It seems to me God must really like a good comeback story because the Bible is FULL of accounts of people a lot like you and me who get a second chance. There's something pretty special as we see into the heart of God through the these Divinely orchestrated comebacks in His Word. They remind us we too can come back! Let's consider David for example. David spends a night of reckless passion with a married woman and then as part of the cover up sees to the murder of the woman’s husband! (See II Samuel 11 and 12) Or how about the Apostle Peter. Here he is one of Jesus' closest disciples, swears on his life he‘ll never turn his back on Jesus. He publicly declares loyalty until death… and within hours Peter is found denying he ever even knew Jesus. Not just once - but again and again! (See Matthew 26)
Though these are just two accounts they represent much of what we can see play out throughout the history of mankind. Our absolute inability to continue walking closely with the Father… getting tangled up in our sin, our selfishness, our faithlessness. But God knew our need for a comeback - a "come back" to Him - and made the way through His Son Jesus Christ!
Look closely at God’s heart for you as you recall the end of the stories of David and Peter. David later finds redemption and forgiveness and becomes known as a man after God’s own heart. (Acts 13:22) Peter is given a grace-filled reception by Jesus and commissioned in ministry to lead the Church - the very ones Jesus lays down His life for. (John 21:15-17) Those are quite some comebacks wouldn’t you agree?
Do: Those comebacks aren’t just for the few who lived in Bible times but are for us today too. God’s grace doesn’t run out, He doesn’t grow tired of calling us back to Him. Like we’ve heard said, God is simply a half turn away - turn away from what’s entangling you and toward the Lord who loves you. Live for Him and make your comeback today.
Pray: God I want to trust that you haven’t run out of second chances for me. Help me to believe, to fully turn to You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.
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