” ‘Even now,’ declares the Lord, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.’  Rend your heart and not your garments.  Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” (Joel 2:12-13)

This is a clarion call from Father God to all believers to return to the Lord with all your heart.  This is not just for those who are held captive in the enemy’s snare or those who have been waylaid in this world’s Vanity Fair, nor even some who have surrendered to the temptress of self.  This is for each of us irrespective of our current position or circumstance because God wants our fellowship and in His presence we find all we need.

Our promises are secure in Yeshua.

“They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your ancestors lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever.  I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant.  I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever.  My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.  Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.” (Ezekiel 37: 25-28).

This promise spoken by Ezekiel is addressed to God’s people, originally the nation of Israel and any converts who joined His family.  Today, we are part of God family as well and are partakers along with Israel through Yeshua. (Eph. 2:19; 3:6; 2:12-15).  The servant that reigns as prince forever is Yeshua, the son of David.  The everlasting covenant of peace is through Messiah Yeshua.  God’s family is increasing in number daily.  He has put His sanctuary and dwelling place among His people; Holy Spirit in the hearts of His people, a living temple.  God declares that He will be our God and that we will be His people.  This is His doing, affirmation, promise, and coventental agreement.  Then, He gives us a conditional truth.  When God’s sanctuary is among His people permanently/forever, the nations will know that He personally makes Israel holy.

Yeshua said, “My prayer is not for them alone.  I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.  May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.  Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17: 20-23).  “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35).  This is the message to the world, God is God and He is in His people.  It is only right as all Creation testifies to God’s existence and that the Children of God will also witness His lovingkindness and mercy.

Lord God Almighty, your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Thank you for your mercy and abounding love.