Bring Them Back!

At times, we are weak in our relationship with God. There are times when we are lukewarm. Or our heart isn’t always loyal to God. What brought you back to a living relationship with Him?

Zechariah 10 📖 shares some beautiful messages about God. These messages talk about how God brings His people back to Him. Read this chapter now slowly. What are its most important messages?

How do we talk with loved ones who no longer follow the Lord? You may wonder what went wrong. You may ask yourself how you should talk with them now. Maybe you feel helpless about the poor decisions they are making now. These thoughts are very powerful and can change how we feel about our loved ones. So, our words and behavior must be filled with God’s love. We get this love from spending personal time with Him.

Your behavior, your story about Jesus, and your prayers for your lost loved ones can change their lives and their future for the better. (Read in Luke 22:31, 32 and John 21:15–17 📖 how Jesus’ prayers for Peter changed his future.) Give to God your sad feelings. Give Him your anger and any blame you may feel. Ask God to replace these feelings with love that only He can give. Ask God to forgive you and put His holy life of obedience on you, the same as clothes. Then you can be a loving example of Jesus. Jesus was not selfish. Remember, “a life that isn’t selfish is very powerful. A loving and lovable Christian is the strongest proof for the Good News about Jesus.”—Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, page 470, adapted.

Our example of a holy Christian life will show Jesus to other people. When we live a holy life, people who are lost will see something in us that comes only from God. These people will see peace, love, and hope in us. This peace is something that no human mind can fully understand. This love will never let go of them because it comes from God. This hope will not give up, even when times are hard. God’s love for us and our lost loved ones always stays strong. Every day, we can get this love from God. Then we can give this love to the people around us.

What does Ephesians 3:17–19 📖 encourage us to do?