RETURN OF DRIFTING SAINTS: Why have we Neglected YOU?
The theme for this week’s Devotional is Return of Drifting Saints. Prior to Covid the American Church saw a drop in attendance. Post Covid and the pandemic has kept a sizeable number of saints away from church. Our Devotional team shares testimonies and encouragement from God’s Word to stir up the return of love and good works.
SCRIPTURE: ”Return, backsliding Israel, says the Lord; I will not cause My anger to fall on you, for I am merciful, says the Lord; I will not remain angry forever.” Jeremiah 3:12b
Torn Between Two Lovers: The Lord Jesus Christ vs the World. James 4:4 says “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” Wow! Did not Min. Arnell Carter give us a powerful word on Sunday, November 5 about spiritual adultery. The drifting is so subtle – I’m tired so no time in the Word; now that we have live streaming, I really don’t need to go to church; or things are just not the same and on, and on, and on.
Worldliness is an attitude of the heart that affects our response to God’s love and God’s will. I John 2:17 says “The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” The two tests of worldliness: how we are responding to the Father’s love (our personal devotional life) and doing the Father’s will (our daily conduct). The bottom line for our drifting is not that Jesus has moved, but we have – we just don’t love Him like we used to. We have drifted because we have left our first love.
Rev. 1:5 says, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place – unless you repent”. Brothers and sisters, Jesus is soon to return, and we believers will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ and receive the things done in the body, according to what we have done, whether good or bad. It’s 11:59pm, the hour is later than when we first believed!!
Prayer: My Precious Lord and King, my Redeemer, my Everything forgive me for hurting Your heart through my sin and disobedience. Thank You for Your chastening hand of love and for Your continual forgiveness. Yes, Lord break my heart for what breaks Yours and lead me, Holy Spirit, to a heart of obedience. Amen.
By Sis. Cheryl Torain
Worldliness is an attitude of the heart that affects our response to God’s love and God’s will. I John 2:17 says “The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” The two tests of worldliness: how we are responding to the Father’s love (our personal devotional life) and doing the Father’s will (our daily conduct). The bottom line for our drifting is not that Jesus has moved, but we have – we just don’t love Him like we used to. We have drifted because we have left our first love.
Rev. 1:5 says, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place – unless you repent”. Brothers and sisters, Jesus is soon to return, and we believers will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ and receive the things done in the body, according to what we have done, whether good or bad. It’s 11:59pm, the hour is later than when we first believed!!
Prayer: My Precious Lord and King, my Redeemer, my Everything forgive me for hurting Your heart through my sin and disobedience. Thank You for Your chastening hand of love and for Your continual forgiveness. Yes, Lord break my heart for what breaks Yours and lead me, Holy Spirit, to a heart of obedience. Amen.
By Sis. Cheryl Torain
Archive
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
DEEP ARMOR FOR THE STEEP CLIMBDressed in the Whole Armor of God for Spiritual WarfareGRAB THAT ARMORSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIn My Dressing Room (Putting on the Armor of God)Armored for Any WeatherTruth is Foundation for Our FaithA Work in Progress and A Mouth in TrainingREJECTION OF GOSSIP, SLANDER, LIES, AND DISCORD: THE PERFECTING OF 'FEBRUARY'THE DETESTABLESSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIf the Lord Hates It, We Should TooThe Offense Ward of the Sin HospitalSpilling the TeaWe are in ChristLet us Do BetterSpread Love, Not GossipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLThe GREATEST THRILL: Being SPIRIT - FilledTHE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONTROLA Drunken SpiritLookin’ Like Our DaddyFermented or Fresh; How is Your Fruit?We Have it AllSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLJESUS’ LOVE MANDATEHIS Walk, Our Hopethe greatest gift of allTo Love Like Christ
March
LOVE x LOVELove is CommitmentSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor CockrellTHE HIGHEST DEBT OF LOVEPREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISEReturn Your Love to METhe Loveless ChurchWhat Do You Want First: the Good News or the Bad News?POSITIVE FRICTION THAT MAKES US BETTERSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHis Love Versus My FearsJESUS LOVES YOUBe Surrendered to 'Love'Victory Over Fear: Life’s Small LessonsJesus, Our VictoryTRUST CHRIST, BANISH FEARSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHarmony and Discord Aren’t FriendsHOLY PARAMETERSBlinded by HateACT or REACTRESISTING ANGER AND HATE IN CONFLICTPeculiar PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellONWARD & UPWARDHow To Fall ForwardThe Front Windshield is Much Bigger than the Rearview MirrorONE THING TO DOLooking Back Will Have You SaltyGreat Cloud of WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
5 Comments
Amen!! Yes Lord, break my heart ♥ that breaks Yours!! Thanks for this encouraging devotional sis!!ðŸ™
Bless the Lord, Sis. Cheryl, and thank you for the ever-timely, thought-provoking reminders !
Amen!!🙌ðŸ½ðŸ™ŒðŸ½
My Lord Sis. Cheryl, this is confirmation on so many levels. Just praying about this with my prayer Sista's!ðŸ™ðŸ¼
Yes and yes! After reading this the Lord brought to mind tProverbs 6:9-11
9 How long will you [lslumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep-11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.
My goodness, thank you for this encouragement.
Amen, Sister Torain
Obedience is better that sacrifice..