Guard Against Backsliding

“This is what the Lord Almighty declares, “Return to me and I will return to you.” Zechariah 1:3

Over the past month and a half that I have “returned” to Wintersburg, I have noticed that some people that I knew and used to attend church regularly are no longer here. Some have moved on to other churches and are serving there, but others are not attending any church.

During my years as a Christian I have seen many Christians backslide. We don’t use the word “backslide” as much as we used to but even sincere Christians can fall away from the faith and revert back to their old ways and act as though Jesus no longer means anything to them. It is always heartbreaking for me as a pastor when I hear or learn of someone who once walked with the Lord and now rejecting the ways of Christ and the bible and have fallen away from the Christian faith.

Why does this happen? Sometimes it is because their faith wasn’t real and they never committed their lives to Jesus in the first place. Or, maybe they have become disillusioned by the church or other Christians. Hebrews 3:12 says, “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.”

When Christians backslide, Satan rejoices. Satan delights when people fall away from the church and the faith. The good news is that God loves the backslider and stands ready to forgive, welcome, and restore.

Thought For Today: Guard against backsliding in your faith, but if you do, return to God and He will return to you.”

Today’s Prayer Focus: Do you know any backsliding Christians? Remember them in prayer today. Pray for those who used to attend Wintersburg will find a place of worship and find other believers to support and encourage them to walk in faith. Pray that God would bind the work of Satan to keep us from falling. Deo Volente.