Still Time to Come Back

1 Samuel 12:19-25 ESV
19 And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.” 20 And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. 22 For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 24 Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. 25 But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”

I believe many of us forget that Christ died for our sins - all of them. That means the horrible mess-up you had yesterday, or last week. The one that makes you feel embarrassed to come into the Lord's presence. The one that makes you feel too unworthy to even be called a Christian.

Well, stop beating yourself up. Christ took the beating for you. Nothing you did earned you your son-hood (Eph 2:8-9) so nothing you do will take it away. And even though you should mourn and detest the sin in your life, you shouldn't let it defeat you - because Christ defeated sin. You are not to take it lightly (Gal 5:13) but repent of it (1 John 1:9) and He will forgive you and cleanse.

Though Israel had turned from the Lord, they repented. Samuel encouraged them through the Lord and continued to pray for them. Why? Because they were a people that God set apart for Himself. So why should you be afraid to come back into His presence? Though you should fear the Almighty God, He still has set you apart for Himself (1 Peter 2:9).

Knowing that, realize that you will trip in your walk - just don't bury yourself when you do so but turn to the one who died for you and is willing to take you back with arms wide open. (See the story of the Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11-32).