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James Montgomery, "Forever with the Lord!", 1835
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBRge7RC95M
Here in the body pent, (imprisoned)
Absent from Him I roam,
Yet nightly pitch my moving tent
A day’s march nearer home.
Helen Young, "Nearer to Thee", 1901 (Music by Ira Sankey)
Only to know when the day is passed,
And the evening shadows come,
That its trials and cares have proved indeed
A "day's march nearer home."
Quoted by C.H. Spurgeon in his sermon "The Throne of God and of The Lamb" on Revelation 22:3
and
G. Campbell Morgan in "His Workmanship" in reference to Deuteronomy 1:33 (ESV) "(God) went before you in the way to seek you out a place to pitch your tents...to show you by what way you should go."
and
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones in Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, on Matthew 6:20 "Treasures on Earth and in Heaven", and in Studies in John 17, on John 17:24 "With Him in the Glory"
Thomas Guthrie, Way To Life, “The Work of God”, 1863
Let every day see some work done; some battle fought; some victory won. Rise every morning to make a new start for heaven; and let every sun that sets leave you a day's journey nearer it.
J.C. Ryle Practical Religion, “Our Home”, 1878
Heaven, beyond a doubt, is the last home in which a true Christian will finally live. Towards that end he is daily travelling: each day he is coming nearer to that place.
W.H. Dunbar in God’s Minute, A Book of 365 Daily Prayers, 1916
Thou dost send the days as Thou wilt; sometimes in darkness and storm; sometimes in brightness and peace. Make us submissive to Thy will in all things, only come Thou with all the days, that each may be full of Thee, and a step nearer to Thy sweet Home.
J.I. Packer, Knowing God, Chapter 19 “Sons of God”, 1973
I am a child of God. God is my Father; heaven is my home; every day is one day nearer.
Luke 15:18
When he came to his senses, he said…"I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you."
Isaiah 44:22
I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.
Isaiah 55:7b
Let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Jeremiah 3:22a (NLT)
"My wayward children," says the LORD, "come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts."
Joel 2:13
Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.
Psalm 56:13
You have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
Psalm 116:16, 119:32
You have freed me from my chains...you have set my heart free.
The hand of the Lord can loose the chains that bind us, and open the iron gate of our imprisonment, but like Peter, we must get up and follow Him - Acts 12:7-10
In response to your confession of sin and repentance, the Father stands even now with open arms already having forgiven you; filled with joy and celebrating your return.
C.H. Spurgeon “Messages to Sinners and Saints”
https://www.ccel.org/ccel/spurgeon/sermons52.xviii.html
Come back to God, laden with guilt, full of woe and confess all before Him, through Jesus Christ, His Son—and forgiveness shall be yours.
William Collyer "Return, O Wanderer, Return"
Return, O wanderer, return,
And seek an injured Father’s face;
Those warm desires that in thee burn
Were kindled by reclaiming grace.
Return, O wanderer, return,
And seek a Father’s melting heart,
Whose pitying eyes thy grief discern,
Whose hand can heal thine inward smart.
Return, O wanderer, return,
He heard thy deep repentant sigh,
He saw thy softened spirit mourn
When no intruding ear was nigh.
Return, O wanderer, return,
Thy Savior bids thy spirit live;
Go to His bleeding feet, and learn
How freely Jesus can forgive.
Return, O wanderer, return,
And wipe away the falling tear;
’Tis God who says, "No longer mourn",
’Tis mercy’s voice invites thee near.
Rev. James Smith, Charles Spurgeon’s predecessor at New Park Street Chapel, in The Believer’s Daily Remembrancer
Sin brings sickness. The believer can only be healthy as he walks with God and lives above the world. The backslider feels too weak to run in the way of God’s commands; too confused to read his interest in God’s promises; too guilty to call God Father; too wretched to rejoice in hope. He has no liberty in prayer: no enjoyment of his Bible; no peace in his conscience; no delight in God’s ways.
But the Lord says, “Return, ye backsliding children; I will heal your backslidings.” (Jeremiah 3:22a) This is a message from the Great Physician, an invitation from our Father’s throne, a promise of our Savior’s love. Oh, let us return unto 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 unto thee, for you are the Lord our God.” (Jeremiah 3:22b) He will receive us graciously, and love us freely.
Octavius Winslow Daily Walking With God on Psalm 23:3 "He restores my soul..."
It is the Shepherd that takes the first step in the recovery of the wandering sheep. If there is one aspect in the view of this subject more touching than another, it is this—that such should be the tender, unchanging love of Jesus towards His wandering child, He should take the first step in restoring him. Shall an offended, insulted Sovereign make the first move towards conciliating a rebellious people?—that Sovereign is Jesus: shall an outraged Father seek His wandering child, and restore him to His affections and His house?—that Father is God. Oh, what love is that which leads Jesus in search of His wandering child! love that will not let him quite depart; love that yearns after him, and seeks after him, and follows after him through all his devious way, his intricate wanderings, and far-off departures; love that no unkindness has been able to cool, no forgetfulness has been able to weaken, no distance has been able to destroy!
Frederick T. Keeney, "January 2nd" in God’s Minute, A Book of 365 Daily Prayers Sixty Seconds Long for Home Worship
Heavenly Father, save us from the sin of despair. Light the lamp of hope in every heart. Fill us with the spirit of expectancy. Teach us that ruined lives may be rebuilt, and that in Christ is sufficiency for all our needs. We are thankful that Christ is the way to our Father’s house (Luke 15:18), that there is forgiveness for all, the bread of life for all, and a welcome. Cleanse us from the defilement of the way; blot out the memories of the far country; clothe us with the garment of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10), and give us the joy of knowing that Thou dost own us as Thy sons and daughters.
F.B. Meyer, Our Daily Walk
The Lord Jesus will take the broken pieces of any life that will come to Him, and with His skillful and tender touch will remake it into something useful and beautiful in His service. This is the meaning of Redemption. The one thing that Christ asks of any of us is that we should follow Him.
Just as surely as we return to Him, we shall find Him coming to meet and greet and receive us with a glad welcome. When the prodigal was a great way off, his father saw him, and ran to meet him! (Luke 15:20) God our Father is always waiting for us.
Robert Dingley "A Sermon on Job", 1658, on Job 42:5-6, Isaiah 61:3
God can raise Himself glory out of your ashes.
Contact Dr Drew Hause
Embark Ministries
Scriptures are from the 1984 New International Version (NIV) or the English Standard Version (ESV) unless indicated otherwise
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