Welcome Back

 "Let us examine and probe our ways, And let us return to the Lord." Lamentations 3:40

What we now know as "Contemporary Christian Music" which has become a very big and lucrative business, began with groups of "Jesus People" in the late 60's and early 70's. They had no big record contracts, nor did they command set fees to sing and minister. They went wherever He led them and sang for whatever people would give, and if they gave nothing, they still went and ministered. One such group was Love Song, and I just listened to their song, "Welcome Back." I was struck as I am whenever I hear it, by the lyric, "Welcome back to the things you once believed in." It's the call of the Holy Spirit to all of us who may have, to some degree, wandered from living out that which we say we believe. His Spirit will always call us back, and we will be welcome.

This world we live in has more distractions than ever before and the enemy of our souls works through every one of them. Add to that the very real matters of life and all the needs that come upon us in that life, and it is so easy for His presence in our hearts and minds to be crowded out by them. Where might that have happened with you, with me?

For the most part, we don't intend for this to be so. Not many make a conscious choice to leave His presence. It happens in degrees. The fervor we once walked in dulls and our sense of Him does as well. Other things occupy our thoughts. He who once was central to everything in our life has been placed on the fringes of our lives. We get there by degree......and we're so unaware that we're always dying by degrees as well.

Are we willing for Him to search our hearts and lives to bring out where this has been happening in us? Do we really want to be confronted with where we've wandered from Him and how far? He won't bring condemnation with Him, but He will bring conviction. He will also bring His song. A song that calls us back to His heart. A song that invites to come back to Him and live again in the fullness of what we once knew and believed. Can you hear that song right now? How do you respond?

He may have lost the place in your heart that He once had, you will not lose your place in His. His song calls to you. Will you come? Will you hear His still, small voice whisper, "Welcome back!"

Blessings,
Pastor O