7/28/14: It’s Never Too Late

When Hezekiah was king, he encouraged and led all of Israel and Judah to turn completely back to the Lord starting with keeping the Passover. Since this hadn’t been done in such a long time, he had to postpone the celebration for one month because there weren’t enough priests who had been properly consecrated to take care of all the offerings. Also, there needed to be enough time for all the people to travel to Jerusalem who wanted to come to the feast (see 2 Chronicles 30:3). Then, once the Passover started, it was discovered that all the people had not properly sanctified themselves “yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written” Second Chronicles 30:18.

We’re in the Old Testament reading this account, and we tend to see the God of the Old Testament as harsh and unyielding, but we’re delightfully surprised to find in this story that that is not the case. Second Chronicles 30:18b-20 says, “But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, ‘May the good Lord provide atonement for everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.’ And the Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people” (NKJ).

It may have been a long time since you prayed, attended church, or even thought about God. You might feel like you don’t even know how to approach God now, and you might figure that too much water has passed under the bridge for you to even try. Be encouraged. Stop thinking that way. The Passover under King Hezekiah was a month late, the priests had to hurry to get ready, and the people didn’t even know how to sanctify themselves properly, but God looked past all that because they had prepared their hearts to seek God.

It’s never too late to turn to God. It may seem like the wrong time, you feel like you’re at the wrong place, and you come with perhaps the wrong approach, none of those things matter. Your heart wants God and He can see that through all the “wrongs.”

Worship Him today for being the welcoming arms always ready to take you in.

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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

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Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children

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Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame

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