The Journey
Week of 01.06.13
On Your Mark: Spiritual Exile and Coming Home
by Michael Maybee
A friend recently asked me a surprising question. While discussing what God was saying to us
individually and what we thought we should do about it, I mentioned that I thought God wanted me
to involve more people my ministry activities instead of doing so much alone. In a flash of insight that
had to be a gift from the Holy Spirit, he said, “Tell me the story of your aloneness.”
I am an introvert so it is natural for me to need time alone. But alone is not the same as lonely. My
friend’s question reminded me of times past when I felt not just lonely; times I felt completely isolated
from other people and from God: times I felt completely exiled. Now, I don’t deny that other people
can treat us badly, exclude us, and contribute to our loneliness. But it is usually my response to the
situation, how I let it affect me that leaves me feeling lonely and exiled. That goes double with God.
After much thought and prayer, I realized that with other people, and especially with God, I was
responsible for my own loneliness. I realized that in nearly every instance, mine had been a selfimposed exile.
One memory in particular stands out. It was a time when I chose to do life my own way instead of
God’s way. I turned my back on Him, on what I believed, and lived only for myself. My selfish desires
controlled my life during that season. In spite of having a lot of fun and getting almost everything I
thought I wanted, I felt empty and desperately alone. It had been many months since I last attended
church, read my bible, or prayed. I remember God’s tug on my heart. I could feel Him inviting me to
come home.
Now more than twenty-five years later, every time I drive past the church to which I went the next
Sunday, I remember clearly sitting there alone. Feelings of guilt, shame, and unworthiness flooded my
heart and mind. I remember that just as I had chosen to turn my back on Him, I then and there chose
to turn back to Him. As the tears streamed down my cheeks, those negative feelings washed away.
They were replaced with feelings of forgiveness, conviction (not condemnation), and hope. As I turned
around on the road I had chosen to walk, I found that He was right there waiting to welcome me back.
He was right there with me, ready to help me on the long journey back home.
For me the barriers to returning home were (and sometimes still are) rebelliousness, selfishness, pride,
and unforgiveness. For you the barriers and obstacles may be different. Perhaps they include fear,
shame, or resentment. Whatever they are, He will remove them or help you overcome them. He will
walk with you too on the journey. Like me, you must first choose to come home.
“Lord, I just looked up today and realized how far away I am from where You are. I don’t know what
else to pray. Broken at Your feet I lay this life I’ve torn apart.”
~Casting Crowns, “Jesus Hold Me Now”
Heartland Community Church, On-Line Journey Devotional
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(You are encouraged to use the SOAP – Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer Method for a guide. Click here to read more
about developing your devotional life. Click here for an example SOAP journal entry. If you don’t own a Bible, pick up "The Story of
God" Bible available for free at the Welcome Center in our atrium.)
Week’s Overview: Jesus did not send us an invitation to come home. He delivered it in person. Even more, He came to us to provide the way back home. monday 1.07
Read: Isaiah 40: 1-5, Matthew 3:1-12
Study: More than six hundred years before Jesus appears on the scene, the prophet Isaiah foretold of
His ministry and how John the Baptist would prepare the way for Jesus. What specific promises do you
see in Isaiah’s words? How did Jesus fulfill those promises?
Personal: what “rough ground…mountain…hill…valley” has separated you from God? Where are you
on the journey back home to Him? If you need human help on this journey (and we all do), whom
might you ask for help? If you can think of no one, scroll down to the Resources section where you can
find ways Heartland can help.
tuesday 1.08
Read: Romans 5:1-11
Study: There is a great video about an injured high school softball player getting help from the rival
team (click here to watch it). In the video, the rival who led the effort to help says they helped the
injured player “…because she deserved it.” What does this verse from Romans tell us about how
deserving we were when Christ came to help us? Use your own words to describe what that says
about God and how He feels about us.
Personal: Think of a time when Jesus carried you because you could not walk on your own. Share that
with someone who needs to hear it. Pray a prayer of thanksgiving for the help God gave you then and
continues to give you now.
wednesday 1.09
Read: Matthew 21:28-32
Personal: when have you said no to God but later repented (changed your mind) and said yes? What
has God asked you to do lately? What are you going to do about that?
Heartland Community Church, On-Line Journey Devotional
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thursday 1.10
Read: 2 Corinthians 5:1-21 (focus 18-19)
Study: this verse makes it clear that God is not keeping score so He can exclude us from Heaven. What
is it that God wants us to do; what role has He given us?
Personal: verse 21 says that in Jesus (we are in Him if we accept Him as our Savior and Lord) we have
“…become the righteousness of God.” Do you have trouble accepting that you have become the
righteousness of God? Why or why not?
friday-sunday 1.11-13
Read: John 14:1-6
Study: Where does Jesus say He is going? What reason does He give? What promise does He
make?
Personal: what does this verse mean to you personally? How do you feel when you think
about Jesus coming back to take you to be with Him for all of eternity? If you don’t already receive weekly email notification about The Journey, click here to sign up. grow (resources to help you in your study)  Sunday’s Sermon: Click here for podcast, or video  click here for more resources – this will link you back to the journey’s main page.  connect: click here to go to Heartland’s Facebook page  mobile connections: download the free Heartland app for your iPhone or Android device and access our resources virtually anywhere go (action steps)  prayer? Please send us an email by clicking here  care? Do you need to talk with someone? Please call us at 913.341.5820 ext. 330  go—Sign up to serve: email Lisa Zulke by clicking here  grow—Join a small group, a 1:1 spiritual mentorship, or find about the many other ways to grow  give—click here to make an online gift to Heartland and learn how you can set up recurring gifts
Heartland Community Church, On-Line Journey Devotional
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