Jeremiah 5 - Destroyed; But, Not Completely

It was last Sunday, as I was proclaiming the Kingdom through Jesus Christ from the pulpit, that it came to me that there is such a multitude out there that say "LORD, LORD" (Matt 7:21-23); yet do not really know Him or trust Him. My heart became extremely heavy with this burden. My eyes filled with tears for those wandering about aimlessly, chasing after false hopes, false promises, false gods. How could they? Why would they?

The LORD commanded Jeremiah to go into the streets of Jerusalem and try to find one person who sought the truth. If Jeremiah could find that one person, then then LORD would not hand the city over to Nebuchadnezzar. There were many who said "As surely as the LORD lives," yet they did not believe. They had turned their backs on God while pretending to worship Him. God had tried to correct them, yet they refused His correction.

Jeremiah thought that just maybe they were foolish and simply didn't know the way of the LORD. But, the word he sought to bring them fell on deaf ears. The leaders of the people had hearts of stone. They had removed the yoke from their shoulders. And, so... the LORD promised that He would hand them over to Nebuchadnezzar. They would be destroyed, but not completely. There was hope, even if the people didn't want that hope, because they really did not believe that God was Almighty enough to do this thing. They didn't trust God's word for the good or the bad. In spite, of their lack of faith, God would not destroy them completely. In the end, He will save them. But, they will endure much correction, much hardship, to get there.

As we came to the LORD's table following the sermon this past Sunday, the burden lifted (at least a bit) and hope was restored. I was reminded that it is by God's grace that we are saved. That His children are saved by faith in the precious blood of Jesus shed for all. God forgives you your sins. Turn around and worship Him. Trust Him. Love Him above all things. Let us not harden our hearts and say that God will do nothing. God will do something. He has done something. He has given His all for you. He has given His life for your life - that you might live eternally in His Kingdom. Live life!

May God grant you peace of heart and mind in the knowledge that you are forgiven; that the door to the Kingdom has been opened to you; that you have been saved through Jesus Christ, our LORD. 

Pr. J

Isaiah 46 - God's Will Will Be Done

False idols are burdensome. They do nothing but add weight to the burdens of the animals that carry them and the people that worship them. But, the LORD carries our weight, our burdens. He bore the weight of our sins on the cross for us.

So which is preferable to you to bear the weight and the burden of a false god or have the one true God lift you up and carry you? "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."" (Joshua 24:15 NIV)

Remember too, that there God is God. There is only one and no matter what false gods you choose to worship, it will be God's will that will be done and not ours, not any will of the false gods that we might worship. Of course, truth be said, false gods have no good will for you or anyone else. They can help no one.

“'Remember this, keep it in mind,
    take it to heart, you rebels. 
 Remember the former things, those of long ago;
    I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.
I make known the end from the beginning,
    from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,
    and I will do all that I please.’
From the east I summon a bird of prey;
    from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;
    what I have planned, that I will do." (Isa 46:8-11)

God's Peace - Pr. J