Jeremiah 3:21-25 A voice was heard on the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way… I. THE CALL FROM GOD. "Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings." 1. It is a call to come back to God; and that means, first, remember Him; begin to think of Him; let Him be a living God to you. 2. The next thing is, really turn to Him. 3. There is one word in this call from God which proves that you are invited to come back just as you are, He says, "Return, ye backsliding children"; not "Return, ye penitent children." I notice also that He does not say, "Heal your wounds first, and then come back to Me"; but He says, "Return, ye backsliding" children," with all your backslidings unhealed, — "and I will heal your backslidings." II. THE METHOD OF OBEYING THIS CALL. 1. He who would return to God, and find salvation, must distinctly renounce all other trust except that which God Himself gives him and sets before him in the Gospel. First, there must be a distinct renunciation of all righteousness of your own. The next thing that you must renounce is, your own strength. With that must also go all trust in your own knowledge and abilities, and even in your own understanding. 2. There must also be a hearty, true-minded acceptance of God alone as our one hope. Notice how the text says, "Truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel." There must be no playing at this acceptance of God as our one hope; there must be no mocking of God by a pretended yielding up of ourselves to Him. It must be a true acceptance of God, to be our God henceforth and forever. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the LORD their God. |
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