Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. Hosea 6:1

 My wife and I watch one of our granddaughters several times each week. She is now 14 months and wants to explore every power cord, open every cabinet door, pull on the blinds, and attempt to climb on anything her little body can reach. As she attempts to do these dangerous things, it’s necessary for us to stop her actions by saying “no”, swat her hand, or remove her from the activity that we know will only bring her harm. When we do, she whines and fusses, until something else grabs her attention. It’s a busy (and exhausting) day keeping up with her energy level.

 This morning, I opened my bible and this verse in Hosea came to light. As a child of God, we are sealed with His promise of eternal salvation, but most of all His presence in our lives. Just as parents (and grandparents) are concerned about our children’s safety, so is God. He sees us heading toward danger, and His Holy Spirit attempts to summon us back to the narrow path. But just like children, we often are more focused on what’s behind that closed door, that invitation to take part in something dangerously pleasureful, even venture into a relationship that isn’t right for our wellbeing. At that point, God has done His part, and He releases us to be on our own until we experience the pain of disobedience.

 God is always watching and ready to take us back, and that’s the beautiful thing about His abundant love and unwarranted grace. This doesn’t mean we need to freely chose the world than retreat back to God. But on those days when life’s choices aren’t aligned with His will, we can always count on God’s loving hand of discipline to bring us back to a safe place.

 Maybe you’ve been living on the edge of the world, yet still acknowledge a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Friend, it’s time to find your way back to the narrow path of life. Nothing this world has to offer can yield God’s blessings, only regret and shame. Come back to the One who can heal your worldly scars, give you hope in your hopeless situation, and most of all give you the love you so desire to experience this side of the grave.