A child of God is always welcomed home

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. — Psalm 51:12 As 19-year-old Amelia waited in her doctor's office, she recognized the familiar hymn "Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling" playing over the speaker. It made her smile when she remembered the words. Perhaps a song with the lyrics "shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming" was not the most appropriate background music for a doctor's office! Some find this old hymn too sentimental for their taste. But the message of the chorus can be encouraging for the wayward sinner: Come home, come home, Ye who are weary, come home; Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, Calling, "O sinner, come home!" When a believer replaces God's will with his own, he will find himself in a backslidden condition, out of fellowship with God, in an unenviable state. Although we sometimes yield to our self-centered nature, God is always ready to welcome us back. Because of His "loving-kindness" and "tender mercies," it gives Him joy when we forsake our rebellious ways, return to Him, and ask for forgiveness (Ps. 51:1-2; Luke 15). Has your heart and mind slipped away from your Saviour? Jesus is calling and waiting for you to come back home. — Cindy Hess Kasper O for the wonderful love He has promised, Promised for you and for me; Though we have sinned He has mercy and pardon, Pardon for you and for me. — Thompson A child of God is always welcomed home odb.org