My daughter had missed her personal devotions for a few days. Recently, she had homework from school on Christian studies and excitedly came to me for help. I gently declined, telling her, ‘This is why you should always have your personal devotions.’ She was pained, but surprisingly, the next day, I saw her wake up early for her devotions. Our conversation challenged her to return to Bethel.
Friend, you need to return to Bethel (Genesis 35:1). Bethel is the place where we first met with God. It is the place of devotion (Genesis 28:16-19). A lot of people are far from Bethel. Their walk with God is dry. No wonder life’s questions are difficult to answer. They are easy targets of discouragement and depression. You need to return to Bethel.
Bethel is the place of remembrance of divine covenants (Genesis 17:1-5). It is the place where God revealed His plans for your life. If you don’t return to Bethel, you would live as though God never had a plan for you. When the devil attacks you, the first target is your prophecies and promises. If you forget these, you would be swallowed up by life’s problems (Psalm 74:20).
Your relationship with God is an encounter. But your fellowship with Him is an ongoing experience (Philippians 3:10-14). What you do daily matters to how strong and vibrant your Christian life would be (Leviticus 6:12-13). Jesus’ responsibility is to bring you into a relationship with God. Your responsibility is to sustain it by daily fellowship.
Like my daughter, we all need someone in our lives who would call us back to Bethel (Revelation 2:4-5). We need people who would challenge us to grow. We need messages that would take us back to Bethel (Acts 3:19). The message for the sinning or backsliding Christian is not ‘God bless you.’ It is to go back to Bethel.
No matter how far you have gone in sin, you can still return to God (Isaiah 1:18-19). Like the prodigal son, your heavenly Father’s waiting arms are ready to receive you. In Bethel, you feel the Father’s love and enjoy fellowship (Luke 15:20). In Bethel, provisions are waiting for you. God becomes your shield and exceeding great reward. You need to return to Bethel.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria