WE'RE MARCHING TO ZION!

SCRIPTURE

Jeremiah 50:1-7 (NRSV)

God the true pasture

The word that the Lord spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by the prophet Jeremiah:
Declare among the nations and proclaim,
set up a banner and proclaim,
do not conceal it, say:
Babylon is taken,
Bel is put to shame,
Merodach is dismayed.
Her images are put to shame,
her idols are dismayed.
For out of the north a nation has come up against her; it shall make her land a desolation, and no one shall live in it; both human beings and animals shall flee away.

In those days and in that time, says the Lord, the people of Israel shall come, they and the people of Judah together; they shall come weeping as they seek the Lord their God. They shall ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, and they shall come and join themselves to the Lord by an everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten.

My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray, turning them away on the mountains; from mountain to hill they have gone, they have forgotten their fold. All who found them have devoured them, and their enemies have said, "We are not guilty, because they have sinned against the Lord, the true pasture, the Lord, the hope of their ancestors."

DEVOTION

Today’s scripture reading touches me in the core of my heart! I am enthralled by the image of God’s people as we come seeking God with tears of repentance. I love the verse which reads, “They shall ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, and they shall come and join themselves to the Lord by an everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten.”

Isn’t this a beautiful image and won’t it be a more wonderful reality? I don’t know about you, but it is my sincere goal to see all of my friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and enemies come before the Lord with hearts full of love and repentance.

In order to make this dream a reality, I understand that I must faithfully proclaim the Name of Jesus on a daily basis and wherever I may be!

As Christians, we must have a heart for all of God’s people who are like lost sheep who have gone astray and are in danger of being devoured by the enemy of our souls. Our non-Christian friends who do not have a saving relationship with Jesus live bereft of the knowledge of the love of God which has been revealed to us in Christ Jesus!

They do not know—or understand—that God loves them so much that God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save them from their sin and gift them with eternal life. As a result they live as their own god, subject to their own rules, ever seeking more and more stuff, and never really happy at all!

I have heard it said that inside of every human being is a God sized hole that only God can fill (Pascal)! Our friends are wondering over the dark hills and valleys of life--lost, confused, lonely, afraid, and cold.

They need for us to come along side of them proclaiming the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ for their lives! They need for us to help them to cast down their idol gods of Greed, Lust, Power, Pride, Acquisition, Fear, Rage, Violence, Abuse, Addiction, and/or Destruction and to build up their personal relationship with God, through Jesus Christ!

It is never too late to share the GOOD NEWS that God loves, gave, and saves and a situation is never so dire that prayer will not help!

Today, we have the opportunity to make The Name of Jesus famous in our spheres of influence! All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and all of us need a Savior who is able to wash away that sin reconciling us with God!

In Jesus, God has established an everlasting covenant with God’s people. We are loved, forgiven, and restored by the Blood of the Lamb!

Let us go out and proclaim this GOOD NEWS to all who will hear it! In Jesus’ Name, Amen…

Will you share GOOD NEWS with people in need of it today?

If so, please pray with me:

Holy God, thank you for the love and blood of Jesus that covers the multitude of my sin. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I can make the Name of Jesus famous everywhere I go! I know that you love me and that you gave Jesus to die on the cross to save me from my sin and gift me with eternal life. I am so thrilled that Jesus did not stay dead, but was resurrected just as He promised! This wonderful GOOD NEWS cannot be kept to myself! Please help me to faithfully share it with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

SPECIAL NOTE

If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! I would be so honored if you would let me know about your decision by clicking “Yes” in the poll located at the top/right of today’s devotional! I am so happy for you! Happy Spiritual Re-Birth-Day!

Next steps: In response to what God did for you just now, let me suggest that you consider telling another Christian so that they can celebrate with you! Ask them to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand so that you can learn more about your new-found faith! Ask them to help you find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make new friends who will walk with you on your new journey! You are already saved; now let God mature you by faith! Congratulations!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

To listen to audio recordings of Pastor Yolanda's Sunday sermons, please visit http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/57814 or click the widget to the right on this page!

If you would like to put all of your hope in Jesus today, please visit my blog entitled, “Putting All Your Hope In Jesus” located at
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/putting-all-your-hope-in-jesus.html

If you have additional questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus"
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html

Pastor Yolanda is now publishing another blog entitled, “A Spoken WORD” in celebration of Holy Hip Hop, Gospel/Christian Rap and Spoken Word. Please check it out @ http://aspokenword.blogspot.com/

You are invited to follow Pastor Yolanda on Twitter www.twitter.com/PastorYolanda

Good News has now added a Prayer Ministry. http://www.kindlejoy.com/groups/goodnews

You are invited to leave comments or questions regarding today’s devotional. These comments are public.

EACH ONE--REACH ONE! To share GOOD NEWS with a friend please click the "Share With Friends" button to the right!

Thanks for reading and please come again. Pastor Yolanda extends a very special welcome to all of our friends reading outside of the United States of America! We are honored that you are sharing with us today.

From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com