‘I will heal your backslidings’ (Jeremiah 3:22)

Sin brings sickness. The believer can only be healthy as they walk with Christ, live above the world, and look for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. At the feet of Jesus we are safe, and shall be healthy; but if we wander from Him, spiritual disease will seize us. The backslider feels too weak to run in the way of God’s commands; too confused to read their interest in the Saviour’s promises; too guilty to call God Father; too wretched to rejoice in hope.

They have no liberty in prayer; no enjoyment of their Bible; no peace in consciousness; no delight in God’s ways. But the Lord says, “Return, you backsliding children; I WILL HEAL YOUR BACKSLIDINGS” This is a message from the Great Physician, an invitation from the Father’s throne, a promise of our Saviour’s love.

Oh, let us return to Him with weeping and supplication, adopting David’s prayer as our own, “Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You” [Psalm 41:4]. Let us take up the determination of the Church, “Behold we come to you, for you are the Lord our God” [Jeremiah 3:22]. He will receive us graciously, and love us freely.

Give me Thy pardoning love to feel,
And freely my backslidings heal,
Repair my faith’s decay,
Restore the sweetness of Thy grace,
Reveal the glories of Thy face,
And take my sins away.

THE DAILY REMEMBRANCER by James Smith (1802-1862)

Journal Jottings

‘I take thee, the heart-searching God, to witness, and the Lord Jesus Christ, before whom I must appear to be judged, and by whom perhaps this document may be cited, that I do give myself entirely away to thee, and pray thee to use me as thou wilt, and take to thyself all the glory of all I do.’