I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him.

Hosea 14:4

There are some people who love to take something that is old, broken down, and worn out and restore it back to new. They see something of great value in what most people would just discard and have nothing to do with. Over time and effort, the item is restored and made useful again with much more value. Very few people would take the time to restore something because of the amount of time and effort it would take.

Hosea records God telling the people to return and that He would heal their backsliding and love them because His anger against them has been turned away.

As children grow up, they often choose to move far away from their parents. Sometimes this is done out of anger, and it breaks the parent’s heart. When the child returns home, the parent rejoices and tries to restore the relationship with joy.

There have been many believers who have chosen to walk away from God. The path of the world has drawn them back into a life of sin and a rejection of the love God has given them.

God is calling them back. His love has never completely cast them out as long as they have life on this earth. He is ready and willing to forgive them and heal them of their sinful choices, removing all sin from their lives.

All the backslidden believer must do is turn back to God and repent of the sins done. God’s love and mercy are so great that He will remove all sin and restore them to what they once were and move forward on the path He has for them.

You may have chosen to walk away from God to enjoy the sin of this fallen world. Sinful pleasures may have drawn your heart. Return to God. God is right there waiting for you to return and repent of your sins so that He can heal you and love you once again.

The wages of sin is death and that is something you really do not want. God wants to give you life, an abundant life that will last for eternity. Return to God’s love and mercy and be restored to new.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will return to God if you have walked away; that that you will know God’s love and mercy; and that you will know God’s forgiveness.

This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Insights from Tom

About the Author

Tom Arn is happily married for 30 years to his wonderful wife Cammie. They are blessed by God with eight wonderful children and one grandchild. Tom has worked as a children’s pastor, senior pastor, and many times (and currently) as a Sunday School Teacher. He has a General Ministries degree with a Bible College. He started doing a short devotional type Bible study on Facebook in 2014, going through the books of the Bible chapter by chapter, section by section. Tom writes what he feels God is placing on his heart.

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