Today’s 333 Devotional: “God’s Restorative Plan”

Do you feel like you’ve been banished from the presence of the Lord due to sin, compromise and disobedience? Do you feel like King David when he stood in the smoking ruins of his compromise when the enemy burned down the city of Ziglag taking his family and possessions?

This is what sin does; it separates us from God.

“But there is a problem — your sins have cut you off from God. Because of your sin, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.” (Isaiah 59:2)

This example is played out for us in Absalom’s banishment from King David.

The woman from Tekoa said, “All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. That is why God tries to bring us back when we have been separated from him. He does not sweep away the lives of those he cares about.” (2 Samuel 14:14)

God is not in the banishing business; rather He is in the business of restoration.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Romans 5:8-10)

God’s restorative plan is the grace He bestows upon us through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

If you are feeling abandoned and banished from God’s presence, confess your sin and God’s promise is that He will restore you through His grace. (1 John 1:9)

Take a moment, therefore, and pray, “Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.” (Psalm 51:11-12)