Thursday: Bring Them Back
Daily Lesson for Thursday 18th of June 2026
We’ve all had weak or wavering moments in our walk with God—the valleys where our heart has been unfaithful or where we’ve merely been lukewarm for too long. What was it that brought you back into an abiding relationship with Him?
Zechariah 10:1-12 shares some beautiful messages about God bringing His people back to Him. Read this chapter now slowly and take note of the main messages.
GoodSalt.com-rhpas1228
In a practical sense, knowing how to relate to, and interact with, a loved one who has walked away from a relationship with the Lord can be challenging. You might wonder how things could have evolved for a different outcome; you might wonder how to interact with them now that they have a different worldview; and you might feel frustrated and helpless about the poor decisions they may still be making. These thoughts will always impact how you treat your loved one, and it’s therefore so important to live and speak from the overflow of your personal time with your Savior.
The testimony of your life, your actions, your words, and your prayers for your spouse or child who has walked away from God can radically change their lives and future. (Read in Luke 22:31-32 and John 21:15-17 how Jesus’ prayers for Peter changed his future.) Surrender any sadness, judgment, or condemnation you might feel toward them, and instead ask God to replace these feelings with love that only He can give. Ask God to cover you with His character so that you can model a loving, unselfish attitude. Remember that “no other influence that can surround the human soul has such power as the influence of an unselfish life. The strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and lovable Christian.”—Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 470.
Through our example of a consistent life that points others to Christ, those who have rejected Christ will see in us something that can come only from God. They will see a peace that passes understanding, love that will never let go, and hope that believes against all odds. God’s love for us and our loved ones never wavers. We can give this love, which we receive every day, to those around us.
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What does Ephesians 3:17-19 encourage us to do? |
We stand today at the crossroads of complacency and compassion, indifference and intervention, reconciliation and regeneration, rejuvenation and restoration. We recognize that the pursuit of wealth, power, and pleasure has often become fertile ground for sin and guilt. Consequently, our work of bringing people back to Christ is clearly defined. Time and again, guilt emerges as a stark reminder of the disparity between one’s conduct and convictions. In the pursuit of transient treasures, many have drifted from the truth, seeking fulfillment through indulgence in sin. Yet Scripture calls us to a higher response. Galatians 6:1 exhorts us: “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.” Likewise, James 5:19–20 reminds us, “My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” In this spirit, we must approach our wandering brethren not as judges, but as fellow pilgrims who have known both failure and the grace that follows.
Our steps toward restoring the lost must be paved with prayer, patience, and persistent love. Prayer must be our first and continual resort—petitioning the Father to open the wanderer’s eyes to His truth and to grant us the wisdom and compassion needed to reach them. Success is not measured by the absence of wandering hearts among us; rather, it is demonstrated by the presence of a vigilant and caring community that reaches out to the lost with discernment, humility, and love. It is the diligent work of the church to seek the drifting soul, offer a lifeline of truth, and extend once again the hand of fellowship. As Jesus declared in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Therefore, our mission remains clear: we are not merely called to increase our numbers, but to disciple hearts that are fully devoted to Christ, nurturing lives that reflect His truth, His grace, and His transforming power.
The greatest comeback story in the Bible is perhaps that of King David. He knew God very well. He defeated Goliath by faith, he wrote many Psalms, he experienced God’s protection on numerous occasions, and he was the anointed of God. Unfortunately, he severely fell by committing adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrated the death of her husband, Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 11). These were not accidental sins but well-premeditated. However, when he was confronted by Prophet Nathan about his sins, he readily confessed. He did not justify himself, blame circumstances, or attack the messenger. “I have sinned against the LORD.” (2 Samuel 12:13).
How did God bring David back?
1) He accepted God’s judgment – He did not argue with God. Many people spend lots of time defending themselves rather than accepting the truth. To make a genuine comeback, we must accept our wrongdoing.
2) He made a genuine repentance – Accepting our wrongdoing without repentance is making a mockery of God’s grace. Take note of how he repented in Psalms 51- a clean heart, renewed spirit, and restored fellowship with God.
3) He endured the consequences of his wrongdoing – We must remember that forgiveness is not an exemption from the consequences of wrongdoing. Repentance includes accepting judgment and being willing to endure consequences.
4) He came back seeking God – After enduring the consequences, David continued worshipping, praying, writing psalms, leading Israel, and pursuing God. His comeback was not emotional sorrow but a complete turnaround.
What are some of the plausible lessons from David’s great comeback?
a) No one is beyond repentance.
b) Repentance requires honesty
c) Restoration is possible even after facing the consequences of our wrongdoing
d) God’s mercy is greater than human failures
e) No one is immune to falling.
“The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” (Psalms 103:8, NLT).
Basicly Ephesians 3:17-19 is talking about bringing us back. God talks about bringing back the Israelites back from Egypt and later from Medo-Persia to Cannan the promised land. In our case it is turning back to God. Come to think of it we are brought back to Christ on a daily basis in our devotional relationship with God. All have sined and fallen short of the glory of God. Thank God for His gifts of mercy, faith, hope, yet the greatest of these is His love for all His sons and daughters of Him, and all of His creation.
I read a good article referring to Ephesians 3:17-19. it may help us better understand what Paul meant.
Here‘s the link:
https://wonderink.org/what-does-it-mean-rooted-in-christ/
Thank you so much Amina. I loved this reference. It was good for me and is excellent for sharing. At the bottom, there were other subjects that the author has written about.
Friends, you know what? God loves a return, and as we return, God uses us to reach out and return with more. God loves all His people. The return of Jacob to the “land of the promise,” as witnessed by Esau, was a testimony like no other. With him were Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah—women whom he had brought from Haran, where there had been (strange and foreign worship). Some of them, including Rachel (Genesis 31:34), had carried or hidden foreign idol gods from Haran (Genesis 35:2–4).
Esau saw women and children in great numbers, but Jacob’s answer was, !! 🤔🤔???
Children? Could it mean offspring? Maybe a harvest? Fishers of men, perhaps? You see, God loves a return to Him because He loves His people—all His people. In many returns, people come back with more. They return with gain and wealth, with spoils, with harvests, and with more people for God.
Joseph goes into Egypt; he returns to Jacob with Ephraim and Manasseh. Ephraim (meaning “doubly fruitful”), though a half-breed, is joined to the nation of Israel as Jacob adopts both him and Manasseh. Both are blessed——”and may they multiply abundantly like fish” (Gen. 48:16). But to Ephraim, more is given. In Genesis 48:19, his descendants would expand, multiply, and become a vast multitude of nations—a multitude of peoples is pronounced over him.
Ironically, through Ephraim, under Jeroboam, Israel would later divide into Judah and Israel, with Jerusalem and Samaria as their respective capital cities. Samaria would become rooted in a mixed Gentile population. Do we realize that Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph in Egypt, are in a sense the original “wild olive branches” written about by Paul in Romans 11? And that we are part of that multitude of nations that has been brought back to God? That God has brought us back to Himself and added us as part of the “great multitude” (Revelation 7:9), alongside the 144,000? And that we are called to carry out Christ’s commission in Matthew 28:19–20 and bring more people back home to God?
The prophecy of Ezekiel 37:15–28 unites the “Two Sticks” of Judah and Ephraim into one. And we are part of that multitude of nations being brought back to join the vine—wild, perhaps, but fruitful.
So, how about reaching out to all and bringing them back to God?
Financially, we all like a return for our investment. When we invest more and get more for our investments, it’s even more rewarding.
Let’s think about God’s investment for us. John 3:16, Roman’s 5:8.
Lord, inspire us to become rooted and grounded in Him to prepare others and myself to be a part of the greatest harvest of all time when Jesus comes again. Thank you for Your investment.
Does returning to God mean returning to the SDA church?
Dear Robert, I am now 70 years old and a recently returned child of the King, I believe that in loving our God and Saviour we will keep his Commandments which includes keeping the fourth Commandment of the Sabbath. I don’t know any other church other than the SDA church that represents Gods church in these final days of earth’s history.
I have found amazing fellowship and support and believe that it is a wonderful blessing to attend Gods chosen church where the Lord can lead me to do his work.
I am not eloquent nor can I quote bible passages however, going to the SDA church feels like coming home on my journey towards my heavenly home.
I would say “probably” but I don’t know if I would be dogmatic about that issue. There may be people who can’t come back for some reason. I think you can have a relationship with God apart from the church and you can follow and believe Bible truth without being joined to the Adventist church. After all, those who live in places without a church can still be faithful. However, in most cases, ideally someone would return to the church. That’s not because there’s anything magical about the organization. It is flawed like every human organization. But it seems it’s best to be in fellowship with people who share our beliefs.
No it doesn’t. It could be involved in it. However, the Father’s house is bigger than the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Church should function as a vehicle to get and keep us connected to the Father.
Lord please provide for us to support your children wrestling with temptations to leave your abiding relationship. And those in relationship with God, we pray for strength to continue with the relationship.
In reading the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) we often focus on the son that left home. However, the son who never left home was just as lost as his flamboyant brother who dared to ask for his inheritance ahead of time, and then went forth to waste it on riotous living.
Could it be that we ourselves are that “other son” who never left home outwardly but whose heart is not right with the Father either? He “served” the Father out of obligation, not love. We know that Jesus told that parable to benefit the self-righteous Pharisees/Sadducees as well, they were indignant that “sinners and tax collectors” were flocking to Jesus.
Where do we place ourselves in that parable? Are we the rebellious son, that eventually came to his senses and returned home willing to enter into a servant relationship, rather than a sonship one, or are we the other son that never went away to “a far country” but had, or have a servant relationship with the Father? In reality the Father had two wayward sons.
Before we worry about our wayward children, where are we? Notice how the Father responded to each of his sons. This is how we should respond to the prodigals that have left our home. Shaming and blaming never patched up any relationship, only love. May we pray for them, and watch for them, and love them like Jesus, remembering that it’s the goodness of God (the Father) that leads all us prodigals to repentance. (Romans 2:4) It’s what led this prodigal to return home.
May it lead us to sing of the Goodness of God.
The Goodness of God, CeCe Winans
The author of today’s lesson in her closing remarks suggested that we pay close attention to Ephesian 3:17 -19 . In studying the passage something struck me that I had encountered in the field of Educational Psychology.
Here is the part of the passage that I would have you note -” …And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,…” Ephesians 3:17-18 NIV
One of the great laws of Educational Psychology is that the unknown can only be grasped via the known. In order for me to share something with you about, about which you know absolutely nothing ; I have to begin with something that you know.
Could it be therefore in our quest to share with people ; our spouses, our children, our fellow church members, our neighbours and even perfect strangers the message that God loves them : could it be that our demonstration of unconditional love towards them is absolutely irreplaceable?
Could it be that the only platform they may possess to grasp His wide, long, high and deep love; is ours?
The lesson writer included a quote from Ellen G. White: “The strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and lovable Christian.” I want to mention that – ‘lovable’ – includes being alert and mindful to observe the opportunities presenting themselves to us in our daily life. A loving disposition needs to find expression in our interaction with others, our responsibilities and our activities.
Feeding from the Creator of LOVE to share with others after being full of it: the key to success in life! But there has to be intentionality in spending time developing a relationship with the Lord, while this can be a real challenge in today’s busy life.