Wednesday, September 30 2020 Devotional

“Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the LORD of hosts.”

‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Three times in one verse the phrase is repeated: “Says the Lord of Hosts.” You might get the impression that He’s trying to get us to understand something!

There is a message that God wants us to understand, that it really comes from Him, so He repeats this phrase to emphasize the fact. The message is: “Return to Me, and I will return to you.”

This isn’t the wishful thinking of a softhearted preacher; it’s God, the Lord of Hosts, who says it.

Even when He is judging our sin, even as He metes out discipline, even as the people were recovering from the Babylonian exile, where they were sent because of their sinful rebellion against Him, His repeated appeal is the same: "Return to Me and I will return to you.”

An appeal from God’s heart to yours, a promise, and a word of assurance: “Return to Me and I will return to you.”

Are we listening?

Lord of Hosts, You are forever ready to redeem, forgive, and restore. Help me to respond by the enabling power of Your Holy Spirit in true repentance and faith. Keep me close, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Pastor Dan Giles