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For thus says the Lord: Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, "Save, O Lord, your people, the remnant of Israel." See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here. With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back, I will let them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble; for I have become a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, "He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd a flock." For the Lord has ransomed Jacob, and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall become like a watered garden, and they shall never languish again. Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. I will give the priests their fill of fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty, says the Lord. (Jeremiah 32:7-14)
Nothing like good news from home! I remember my college days; days of pay phone calls home, and rare occasions when the pay phone call was actually for me from home, and letters of news of things going on that I loved hearing. And nothing more soothing and exciting to the soul than the words, "Please come home." And in some cases, "Please come home, all is forgiven..."
Such is the message of the prophet Jeremiah to the people of God; God has forgiven you, please come home. The people found themselves alienated from God, and from their home. They had been scattered all over the known world and God's call was for all to come home. The picture the prophet paints is of people of all shapes, colors, conditions, coming home. Some are weeping, some are laughing; the entire journey home is lined with provision and confirmation that they need to come home.
The same holds true today for some. For one reason or another, you may have wandered away from God; you're in a foreign land of sin and despair and you don't know what your next step may be, but hear the news: All can be forgiven, and you can come home. There will be much rejoicing and celebration in heaven and in the home where you left angry or confused. All will be forgiven, and you can come home. God provided a Shepherd for you, and His name is Jesus - you belong to His flock. Surrender you life, turn over your sins, and begin the journey home. He awaits you with open arms and a loving and forgiving heart. Soon, you can say, "There's no place like home!"
PRAYER: Father, for those who have wandered, help them hear the message of hope: All can be and will be forgiven, come home. Lord, may Your Shepherd lead them out of the foreign and dangerous land of sin and lead them to the land of life and joy, a life filled with the abundance of life. This is my prayer, Loving God; in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
PS I ask prayers for a 14 year old named Amber of San Antonio. Her mother is Lisa Wright. Amber needs cancer surgery and her mom would like for this cancer to be removed before it can do more damage to her. A situation has arisen where the doctor is moving the surgery back a month. Please join me in praying that God work a way for the surgery to be as scheduled originally, but more importantly, pray that God's healing touch be upon Amber to remove the cancer Himself. May the doctors be astonished by what God can do. Lisa Wright is now a friend of mine on FaceBook and I believe, she would love those of you on FB to make her your friend so that you can share how you are praying for her and her baby. Thank you for taking time to pray her Amber and Lisa. May the Lord bless you and keep you!
