Luke 15:22-24 ‘But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’

DAILY READING James 1; Jeremiah 21-22; Psalm 129

One of the most important moments in Jewish history is the 587 BC Siege of Jerusalem. It changed Jewish history forever.

Due to the disobedience of the Jews, God prophesied through Jeremiah that the people would be carried captive into Babylon where they would serve king Nebuchadnezzar for 70 years, then after that He would bring restoration to them.
The historical account of events unfolded exactly as God had said.
Nebuchadnezzar came and not only conquered Jerusalem, but virtually destroyed the city. The Temple of Solomon was raided and burnt to the ground in a fire that lasted for days.
The Jews were taken captive and sent into exile to Babylon, a land of idolatry.

During these 70 years of captivity, Daniel began to pray to God asking for forgiveness for his people [Daniel 9].
In answer God brought fulfillment to His word and began by destroying their captors.
Now the destruction of Babylon could not have been humanly predicted because Babylon at that time, was the crown jewel of the Assyrian empire. It was the epitome of religion and culture in the ancient middle east and was seemingly indestructible.
But according to history, King Cyrus of Persia attacked Babylon and the great city of Babylon fell suddenly in one night [Jeremiah 51: 8].
After Cyrus had destroyed Babylon, he freed the Jews to go back to their homeland. This happened 70 years after their captivity, just as God had prophesied through Jeremiah.
King Cyrus also restored to them the treasures that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Jewish temple when he destroyed Jerusalem. Thus the people had enough wealth as they left back to their homeland to rebuild the temple.

It was when the children of Israel repented and turned back to God, that He brought deliverance and restoration to them.
Indeed God is full of love and mercy. Whenever we stray He is ever ready to receive us back. When we understand the love of the Father instead of running from Him when we sin, we should rather run to Him. He is ever ready to forgive and to restore us back, as long as we return back to him. God desires that we turn back from rebelling against His Word and walk in obedience to His will, so that He can judge the things afflicting us.

2 Corinthians 10:6 says ‘God is in readiness to revenge all disobedience when our obedience is fulfilled’

It is indeed God’s desire to restore us to His destined place of glory once we can retrace our steps back to Him.
After wasting and squandering all his inheritance, the Prodigal Son returned home, broke and a mess. All he wanted was to be received as a servant by his father. But the moment he asked for forgiveness, his father called for the best robe, the fattest cow, the best shoes, and a ring of authority and restored him to his rightful place as his son.
Likewise, the moment you can return back to the Father, no matter what you may have lost in life, God will restore you back.
If you come under His corrective hand through disobedience, if you repent, He will reinstate you to a place of blessing.
Even the wasted years, God will restore back to you.
The only thing that separates men from experiencing God’s best is disobedience. God has said that when we obey Him we will spend our days in prosperity and pleasure.
The consequence of disobedience is man suffers losses in his health, finances, relationships and in every other area of life.
Indeed sin is a separator between man and God.
Isaiah 51:9 says ‘Behold The Lord’s hand is not shortened that He cannot save neither His ear heavy that it cannot hear but your iniquities have separated between you and your God..’

Truly two cannot walk together except they be agreed.
Therefore today, let us make the decision to truly and fully return back to God and begin to live in obedience to His every Word. By The Help of the Holy Spirit let us receive the grace to live a life totally pleasing to God. As we do, God will not only restore us, but He will also arise to destroy every enemy of our lives.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to constantly live a life that glorifies You in every way. Thank You Lord, for granting me the grace to get rid of anything displeasing to you in my life so that I can experience my long awaited deliverance in Jesus Name.
QUOTE
When you obey God’s instruction you are delivered from destruction. WORDBITE 222