Tap tap tap

‘I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land; (verse 13)

Read Genesis 31:1-21

Jacob’s father-in-law was cheating him out of his wages. Jacob was distressed as he had left his homeland and worked hard for years to please him. God came to Jacob’s rescue and reminded him of the time he had received a blessing from God at Bethel. Bethel actually means ‘house of God’: Has there ever been a time in your life that you strayed from God? I have. But something drew me back. I began to be homesick for God’s house. That was the Holy Spirit tapping me on the shoulder to come home again. Back to my native land just as he did with Jacob. What about you? Perhaps God is tapping you on the shoulder today to come back to him. Perhaps a face of someone who has strayed comes to mind that you could encourage or pray for.

Name a time when you strayed from God.

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to bring me back to you when I stray. Amen.

by Dean Mills, in ‘Time Out with the Shepherd’  (ACR, Australian Church Resources, 2017)