“And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”
1 Samuel 7:3
God’s call to return is not a threat or a scare meant to punish or disgrace, but an invitation into a living relationship with Him. Return means more than emotion—more than feeling sorry or crying. It means removing whatever is taking God’s place in your heart—sin, pride, distractions, idols, and wrong habits. It means realignment—bringing your priorities, decisions, and direction back in line with God’s will. It means surrender—giving God full control, not partial obedience.
Israel had been oppressed by the Philistines, not because God was weak, but because their hearts were divided. They wanted God’s help without giving Him full loyalty. But God does not compete with idols.
When the heart truly turns back to God, bondage loses its grip. The same God who allows correction also restores with power. Deliverance follows devotion.
Charge: The Master still beckons today—not partially or halfway, but wholeheartedly. Return to Him with a complete heart, and He will restore you fully.
Further Study: Deuteronomy 30:2-3; Joshua 24:14; 2 Chronicles 12:14; Psalm 34:17; Lamentations 3:40; Jeremiah 24:7; Joel 2:12-13; Luke 16:13; Acts 3:19.
