“As has just been said: “Today, if you hear His voice…” (Hebrews 3:15 NIV)
There are three main options for us to choose from when it comes to paying one’s bills. Actually, there are four, but one I would recommend you avoid. You can pay by mail, a relic from the past that people everywhere once opted to do unless they paid in person. You can pay by automatic deduction by setting up your payment via the online option. Some of us hesitate to do that because we want to make sure the money is in our account for sure. Another option is to call and pay by phone. That’s the one I usually use, but of course you have to recognize I’m a non-technical wiz, a Baby Boomer who has some distrust for the online payment option. The fourth option is to ignore the bill you receive in the mail altogether, but that will ignite a number of options that your creditors will take to ensure you pay your debt. So forget option four.
Let me focus on the third option, the pay by phone option for my analogy. If you have used this option, you know that after you verify your account, zip code, and identification correctly, a pleasant voice says, “Welcome back!” And then, after a brief pause, right before you make things right by going through the payment process, that same voice goes on to say, “The last time we heard from you was on…,” accurately specifying the date of the last time you made your payment. With me, I know the words of “the voice” so well, I can speak right along with the automated message, and we sound like the epitome of the greatest duet ever. The words that stand out most vividly are, “Welcome back,” and then the words referencing the last time the debtor had heard from the payee.
Thinking on these words, it made me wonder if there is anyone who will read this day who needs to hear those words from God, “The Voice,” in regard to spiritual things. Let me give some examples. Do you need to hear “Welcome back” when you finally fall on our knees in search for a solution to your problem? Words like, “Welcome back! The last time I heard from you was on the day that you had tried everything else, and you now come to Me like you should have done in the first place.” Do you need to hear “Welcome back” when you open your Bible after a month or two or maybe longer, and you hear “The Voice” of the Lord speaking inspired words to your heart, reprimanding you in a gentle way? “Don’t you remember me giving you a reminder, perhaps in the recent past, that instructed you to be not conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind? And don’t you remember me reminding you that My word is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path?”
Perhaps you or someone you know needs to hear “Welcome Back” when it finally becomes apparent that you or that person (that someone) needs to live by God’s principles and do things God’s way? I can imagine them hearing “The Voice” say, “The last time I heard from you was when you discovered that leaning on your own understanding was not going to work and it was best in all your ways to trust in Me with all your heart.” One more, that will surely prompt you to forward today’s meditation to someone who needs to read this last one. Highlight if when you do! Change the color of the font to make it stand out! Underline it too! Why? Because somebody you know needs to read this example and not miss it! We all know somebody who needs to come back to the church, spiritually, physically, or we know someone who needs to resume attending church face-to-face or at the least virtually, temporarily, due to the pandemic. Somebody needs to hear the Divine, hear “The Voice” say, “Welcome back!” The last time you came to church and did not forsake the assembly of the saints was many months or perhaps many years ago.” Here is the good news “The Voice” will speak these words to you, if needed, and others. “We must celebrate for this child of mine has returned. He or she was once lost, but now is found.” Thank our Prodigal God, a spendthrift in love, mercy, forgiveness, and praise Him for giving another chance to make things right! Have a great Thursday! Get busy forwarding this message. Tomorrow is Friday, but focus on today. Be blessed!
“All that the Father gives Me, and the One who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37 NASB)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King