Wednesday, May 24, 2023

           ²¹ “I will show my greatness among the nations. All the nations will see how I will turn my power against them to punish them. ²² From that day on, the people of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God. ²³ Then the nations will know that the people of Israel went into captivity because they did wrong and rebelled against me. So I hid my face from them and handed them over to their enemies. They were killed in battle. ²⁴ I paid them back for their uncleanness and their sins, and I hid my face from them.

           ²⁵ “So this is what the Almighty Lord says: Now I will bring back Jacob’s captives and have compassion for the whole nation of Israel. I will stand up for my holy name. ²⁶ When they live safely in a land where no one will frighten them, they will forget their shame and all the unfaithful things they have done against me. ²⁷ I will bring them back from the other nations and gather them from the countries of their enemies. Many nations will see that I am holy. ²⁸ Then my people will know that I am the Lord their God. I sent them into captivity among the nations, and I brought them back again to their land. I left none of them behind. ²⁹ I will no longer hide my face from them, because I will pour out my Spirit on the nation of Israel, declares the Almighty Lord.”                   Ezekiel 39:21 – 29

       I will bring them back … I will pour out my Spirit!  There comes a time when I must face the exile caused by my sin.  There are examples of willful sin in my life, times when I know the Truth yet choose disobedience.  The barrier this causes in my life is undeniable.  Like Adam and Eve, I run from God, hiding among the ruins of my life, thinking God does not see or hear or know.  But He does … and … He comes to me.  Again and Again, I hear His voice calling, “Tucker, Tucker, where are you?  You’ve missed our time together.”  I know the shepherding of God, the care, the protection, the calling.  I then realize God is in control; His gentle whisper that calls to me assures me that He is God, King of the Universe.  I must align myself to Him; I must rejoice in His possession of me.  I must repent.

       Like the Prodigal, repentance brings me home.  Home to a place of abundance.  Home to a place of safety.  Home to a place of feasting.  Home where my Daddy waits.  Then, with great rejoicing, all that He has is mine.  He baptizes me, cleanses me and empowers me.  He engulfs me in His Spirit; the Spirit is on me and in me and all around me.  And I realize, perhaps as never before, HE IS GOD.  Lord, pour Your Spirit upon me today and bring me to my knees, helping me to know You are God.  Amen!