Christian, do not turn aside

This Scripture encouraged me today, and I just wanted to pass it along.

And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves.”

Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.  And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing. For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people.

-1 Samuel 12:19-22

The people of Israel had committed a grievous sin by rejecting God’s rule and demanding a king. After they acknowledged the evil they had done, Samuel’s response was, "Do not fear... and do not turn aside from following the Lord."

I am amazed by the Grace and Mercy of God. “His compassions fail not. They are new every morning...”

No sooner did Adam fall, God proclaimed Christ, the Second Adam and Redeemer.
No sooner did Peter deny and the rooster crow, Christ was atoning for his sin.
No sooner did the thief on the cross cry out , “Lord, remember me...”, Christ said, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

Hell condemns. It whispers in the ear that your sin is too great, turn aside and despair. But God says in His Word,  Although you have done this wickedness, I do not condemn you. Do not turn aside from following Me, I will heal your backsliding and I will be faithful to complete the good work that I’ve started in you.

And one day, when our sanctification is finally complete, when heaven and earth are made new, God will rejoice over His people with singing:

In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak.

The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

- Zephaniah 3:16-17

Oh my soul, rejoice and wonder. How Great and Wonderful is our God.

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