Tuesday, December 17

SOMEONE HEALS: CALL TO REPENTANCE

Hosea 14: 4-9

     “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.” (Hosea 14:4)

     “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” (Ps. 147:3)

     Alleluia!  He is the God who heals!  Hmmm…the God who heals?  What kind of Christmas message is this?  Praise God—this is the wonderful news of Christmas—His healing touch of repentance!  For God sent His one and only Son to be our Savior.  He gave His life for you and me so that we may have abundant life in Him—not life in ourselves, but life in Him.  When our hearts are tuned into other things, such as our daily activity, family, jobs, entertainment, etc., we are on a downward slide, going away from a God who has the healing power of love to restore us to a right relationship with Him.  For, you see, if our main focus is on all these other things instead of Christ, then we are going backwards instead of forwards.  The call is to return unto the Lord thy God.  It’s a total abandonment of our idea of salvation, and allowing the beautiful fragrance of Christ to draw, revive, grow, and heal our broken hearts.

     All are in need of healing.  Praise Him, for He is the Great Physician!  Yes, he heals you from colds, backaches, heartaches, major diseases, but BEST and MOST of all, He heals you from a life of sin!  Good News!  Alleluia!  When we cry out to Him, He hears and receives us graciously!  He pardons our sin and heals the guilt of our backsliding.  He plants us deeply in His heart, and we blossom and grow and have, as our scent, the beautiful fragrance of a holy, righteous, living Christ!  His call of commitment is sweet music that soothes our soul, and draws us into oneness with Him.  His call is a personal call.  His love is personal.  To know people intimately, you must spend time with them.  This is what Jesus is saying to us.  “Come unto me, for I will heal your backsliding, and I will love you freely.”  Just come—now—for today is the day of salvation!  “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.  And let him that heareth say, Come.  And let him that is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”  (Rev. 22:17)  This Christmas, open your heart to His healing gift of repentance.

     “And the people when they knew it, followed Him; and He received them, and spake unto them of the Kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.”  (Luke 9:11)

~ Judy Hollobaugh