A New Covenant.

Jeremiah 31

"But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins." ­– Jeremiah 31:33-34 NLT

Do you ever wonder just what kind of God it is that you worship? What is He really like? Is He angry, demanding, and unrealistic in His expectations of us as human beings? Are His standards too high and His punishment too severe? Or is He a God who turns a blind eye to our sins, lovingly overlooking our disobedience and compassionately tolerating our inability or unwillingness to keep His commands or follow His ways? The truth is, a lot of it seems to depend on the version of God we construct from reading the Scriptures. If you favor the New Testament of the Old, you probably have a view of God that is more loving, merciful, and forgiving. If you prefer the Old Testament, you might have a more hardline view of God – as a righteous deity who hates sin and deals with rebellion severely and unapologetically. Most of us, if we're honest, have somewhat one-dimensional perspectives of God. Depending on how we were raised and the kind of religious upbringing we have experienced, our view on God can vary greatly.

But the book of Jeremiah paints a well-rounded, comprehensive and complete picture of God. It presents a vision of God that appears at time contradictory, but in the end is complimentary. Jeremiah's God is holy and righteous, unwavering in His hatred for sin and unapologetic in His demand that His people live holy lives. He punishes, disciplines, and even destroys the disobedient. He brings judgment on those who refuse to play by His rules. But there is another view of God in the book of Jeremiah. He is also compassionate, loving, kind, extremely merciful and incredibly tolerant and forgiving. Even I read that history of the people of Israel and wonder how God could have put up with them for so long. I marvel at their stubbornness and stupidity. I cringe at their arrogance and pride. And I have no problem understanding why God finally seems to give up on them, choosing to send them into exile and out of His Promised Land. But amazingly, God never really gives up on them. He never stops loving them. Even His punishment of them is motivated by love. He says, "Is not Israel still my son, my darling child? I often have to punish him, but I still love Him" (Jeremiah 31:20 NLT). God's love for the people of Israel remains undiminished, even though they remain unresponsive to it. He continues to care for them, despite their callousness towards Him. And He has promised to one day restore them to the land and back into His favor. He tells the people of Israel, "In the past I deliberately uprooted and tore down this nation. I overthrew it, destroyed it, and brought disaster upon it. But in the future I will just as deliberately plant it and build it up. I, the Lord, have spoken!" (Jeremiah 31:28 NLT). There is a day coming, God says, when He will make a new covenant with the people of Israel. This won't be a conditional covenant like the one He made with Moses, that required the people of Israel to keep the Law and obey God's commands in order to remain in His favor. They broke that covenant. No, this new covenant will be unconditional and solely based on God alone. This time God is going to write His law on their hearts. It will not be external, based on their self-effort to try and keep God's commands, but it will be internal, flowing from changed hearts that have been transformed by God Himself. The day is coming when God will do for Israel what they could not do for themselves. He will provide them with the capability to live in faith and obedience. He will give them new hearts and a renewed relationship with Him – a relationship based not on works, but mercy and grace. The day is coming when God will restore His people and the city of Jerusalem. He will extend love, mercy, grace and forgiveness to the very people who had rejected not only His Law, but His own Son. In spite of all that they have done to reject and replace Him, He will show love. That is the kind of God we worship. He is holy, just, righteous, loving, kind, merciful, gracious and forgiving. He is patient and He is always right and righteous in how He deals with us. Our God is great!

Father, You are great and greatly to be praised. I am amazed at Your love and mercy. You put up with so much from us as human beings. You have every right to destroy us for our disobedience, but You continue to show us mercy and extend to us Your grace. You punish us, but still love us. And You are not done with us yet. Thank You! Amen

And Now the Good News.

Jeremiah 30

This is what the Lord says: "When I bring Israel home again from captivity and restore their fortunes, Jerusalem will be rebuilt on its ruins, and the palace reconstructed as before. There will be joy and songs of thanksgiving, and I will multiply my people, not diminish them; I will honor them, not despise them." ­– Jeremiah 30:18-19 NLT

Not everything Jeremiah had to say was bad news. Occasionally, he got the opportunity to tell the people something that would give them hope. God gave him a message to share spoke of future restoration. Yes, God was going to punish them for their sin, because He had to. God must deal with sin. He cannot overlook it or ignore it. He told them, "For I am with you and will save you, I will completely destroy the nations where I have scattered you, but I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you, but with justice; I cannot let you go unpunished" (Jeremiah 30:11 NLT). God was going to discipline the, but with justice, and He would not completely destroy them. In fact, He promised to return them to the land of Canaan again from captivity. And He did – after 70 years of exile in Babylon, the people of Judah did return to the land. But there are some aspects of God's promise that don't seem to have been fulfilled. For instance, He says that He will restore their fortunes and that Jerusalem will be rebuilt on its ruins, including the palace. It will be restored to its original splendor. This rebuilding would have to include the Temple, a central fixture in the holy city of Jerusalem. And the Temple would be destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. And while the city and the Temple would be rebuilt and restored under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah after the people were able to return from captivity, the city never regained its original splendor. Jerusalem would never be the showplace that Solomon had made it. It would be a shadow of its former glory.

And God also promises to prosper and multiply them. He says He will establish them as a nation and punish anyone who hurts them. He will give them their own king, one who would be a Hebrew and not a foreigner. Yet, has any of this taken place? Were the people of Judah ever to have a king again? From the time of their return until the time of Christ, they would live under constant control of another nation. Even after their return from exile, they were little more than vassals to the Babylonians. And eventually they would live under the iron fist of Rome, having no king of their own. No descendant of David would sit on their throne. And today, Jerusalem is far from the spectacular city that Solomon had constructed. The palace does not exist and the site of the Temple is occupied by a mosque. So what is Jeremiah telling the people? When will all this be fulfilled? The answer is: In the future. There are aspects of God's promise to the people that had a more immediate fulfillment. They did return from captivity. They did rebuild the city and the Temple under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah. They did occupy the land once again. But they would also be forced from the land again. Israel's history has been filled with the constant threat of annihilation at the hands of those who despise them. Even today, the nation of Israel is surrounded by nations who are determined to destroy them. Their enemies are many. And they have no king. Yet God promised that they would have their own ruler again and he would be one of their own. So that promise has to be in the future, and yet unfulfilled. It is a future promise of the millennial kingdom. The day is coming when Christ will return and He will come to rule in Jerusalem and sit on the throne of David. He will restore the nation of Jerusalem to its former glory and splendor. And He will reign in righteousness and truth over the people of Israel and the world. At that time, God says, "You will be my people, and I will be your God" (Jeremiah 30:22 NLT).

There are things yet to happen that God has promised. He is not done yet. Israel is a nation that no longer worships God. They worship their military and their scientific knowledge. They worship their ingenuity and their prosperity, but not God. When their Messiah came, they rejected Him, and they continue to do so to this day. But the day is coming when God will return them to the land, but more importantly, He will return their hearts to Him. He will restore them to a right relationship with Him, and the Messiah they rejected will reign as their King forever.

Father, don't let us lose sight of Your bigger redemptive plan. You have so much in store for this world and for Your people. You have promises that have yet to be fulfilled and You will see to it that they happen, just as You said they will. There is a day coming and when it comes, You will bring to completion Your divine plan for the redemption and restoration of this world. Thank You. Amen

A Word For Exiles.

Jeremiah 28-29

Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare. ­– Jeremiah 29:5-7 NLT

King Nebuchadnezzar had already invaded Judah once and had taken some of the people as captives back to Babylon. Jeremiah, living and prophesying in Jerusalem, wrote a letter to those Jews who were now living in exile. These people were experiencing exactly what Jeremiah had predicted would happen. They were experiencing the punishment God had warned them about. They were now living in a foreign land, no longer able to enjoy the comforts of home. Many had been separated from their friends and family members. They found themselves surrounded by a culture they knew nothing about and a people who spoke a language they did not understand. Can you imagine how they must have felt? It would have been easy to despair, give up, and lose all hope. But Jeremiah writes to encourage them to keep on keeping on. He wants them to know that their time there has an end. It will not last forever. A day is coming when God will restore them to their own land. Their days as aliens and strangers will come to an end, and they will get to return the Promised Land.

Jeremiah encourages them to settle down and make themselves at home. He doesn't encourage them to become like the Babylonian culture. He simply advises them to build houses, plant gardens, marry, have children, and to have a positive influence on the land in which they find themselves. He wants them to multiply and prosper as the people of God – even in the midst of a hostile and foreign environment. They don't belong there, but God wants them to prosper there. This was all part of His divine plan. He is the one who had sent them there and He wanted them to make the most of it. And while these words from Jeremiah were directed to the people of God living as exiles in Babylon, I find comfort and encouragement from them as a believer living in the "foreign" culture in which I find myself. I am reminded of the words of Peter who told the believers in his day, "Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls" (1 Peter 2:11 NLT). He saw them as temporary residents and foreigners living in this world. He calls them paroykos – one who lives on earth as a stranger. And he refers to them as parepidaymos – someone sojourning in a strange place, a foreigner. As the old hymn says, "This world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through." We are temporary residents living in this world. In essence, we don't belong here. Our home is elsewhere. The writer of Hebrews, when referring to the Old Testament saints, said, "All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth" (Hebrews 11:13 NLT). Even Abraham, Noah, Joseph, and Moses knew that they were living as exiles on this earth. Their real home was elsewhere. But they lived and prospered while here. They made the most out of their time here. But they always kept their hope on the future, when they would receive their real reward and be returned to their real home.

The words of Jeremiah encourage us to build home, marry, plant gardens and multiply while we're here, but to never forget that we don't really belong here. This is NOT our home. This is NOT our final destination. We are temporary residents here. And the other thing he encourages us to do is to care about and to influence the culture in which we live. We are to "work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile" (Jeremiah 29:7 NLT). We may not belong here, but we can make a difference here. We are not to be so heavenly minded that we end up being no earthly good. We are called to be salt and light, agents of change and influence in a dark and dying world. Living as exiles gives us a great opportunity to be instruments of change in the Redeemer's hands. God has us here for a reason. When He saved us He could have taken us, but instead, He left us here. He wants us to have an influence. He wants us to prosper and multiply. Like Daniel living in the land of Babylon, God wants us to live for Him and influence the pagan culture in which we live. God reminds the exiles living in Babylon, "For I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT). God had a plan for them and He has a plan for us. Part of that plan is for us to live in this land as aliens and strangers. We are to live with an understanding that this is not our home. We are on our way to somewhere else. One day He is going to send His Son to return for us. He has a place prepared for us. He has a plan for us – to give us a future and a hope. But until that day comes and His plan is fulfilled, let's make a difference where we are. Let's have an influence for good even as we live as strangers in a strange land.

Father, show us how to live as aliens, but to make a difference while we're here. This world is not our home, but never let us give up on it. We are here to live as salt and light. Give us an eternal perspective, but help us live with purpose here and now.. Amen

God's Word Stands.

Jeremiah 26-27

Yes, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says about the precious things still in the Temple and in the palace of Judah’s king: "They will all be carried away to Babylon and will stay there until I send for them," says the Lord. "Then I will bring them back to Jerusalem again." ­– Jeremiah 27:21-22 NLT

No one liked Jeremiah's message and who could blame them. Nobody likes to hear a steady flow of bad news and warnings of eminent destruction. So at one point they decide to put Jeremiah on trial. Their goal is to kill the messenger, and this would not have been the first time. An unknown prophet named Uriah was also delivering the same message as Jeremiah during the reign of Jehoiakim. He predicted the same terrible disaster against the city and the people as Jeremiah did, and as a result, Jehoiakim sent men to assassinate him. But Uriah found out about the plan and escaped to Egypt. King Jehoiakim sent men to capture him and when they returned to Judah with him, the king had him killed. So Jeremiah knew that his trial could end in his own death. But the wise men of the city persuaded the people to spare Jeremiah. They had killed Uriah, but it had not altered God's plan at all. Killing Jeremiah would not change anything either. Killing the messenger would not change the message.

Then a number of years later, word had gotten back to Judah that King Nebuchadnezzar was having some difficulties back in Babylon. At this point, the Babylonians had already invaded Judah and taken some of the people captive back to Babylon. They had spared Jerusalem, but the threat of their return was always there. Rumors had arrived in Judah that Babylon was being threatened with invasion by another country. The nations surrounding Judah had sent diplomats to King Zedekiah, who was reigning as a puppet king under the control of Babylon, to persuade him to join an alliance of nations against Babylon. There was a feeling of hope that they could stand up against the Babylonians if they joined forces. But God sent them word that His plan for the destruction of Jerusalem was in no way altered by rumors of the weakening of Babylonian power or the plans of nations to form alliances. What He had predicted was still going to take place. The only choice the people had was to submit to the yoke of Babylonian captivity or die. And as a visual reminder of this fact, God had Jeremiah construct a yoke, much like oxen would wear to plow the fields, and physically wear it as an object lesson for the people. He was to remind the kings of the nations who were plotting revolt against Babylon that they would not be able to stand up against King Nebuchadnezzar. Their best bet would be to submit to the yoke of slavery God was bringing on them. God gave them a very clear message: "With my great strength and powerful arm I made the earth and all its people and every animal. I can give these things of mine to anyone I choose. Now I will give your countries to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who is my servant. I have put everything, even the wild animals, under his control" (Jeremiah 27:5-6 NLT). They could not alter God's plan. Jeremiah told the same thing to King Zedekiah of Judah. "If you want to live, submit to the yoke of the king of Babylon and his people" (Jeremiah 27:12 NLT). He told the priest and the people, "Surrender to the king of Babylon, and you will live" (Jeremiah 27:17 NLT). King Jehoiachin had already been taken captive into Babylon years earlier. But the people took comfort in the fact that the Temple still stood. They falsely believed that everything was going to be okay. They had convinced themselves that God would not allow His Temple to be destroyed. But God let them know that it would only a matter of time before Nebuchadnezzar returned and destroyed the Temple, the city, and everyone who refused to surrender to His demands.

God's word was going to take place just as He had spoken it. Nothing was going to alter it. Destruction could not be avoided or averted. But there was as a second part of God's word that was also going to be fulfilled. There was good news to accompany all the bad news. Yes, the Babylonians would be returning and when they did, they would ransack the Temple and take everything in it back with them to Babylon. But chapter 27 ends with a promise from God that reminds the people, "Then I will bring them back to Jerusalem again" (Jeremiah 27:22b NLT). The day was coming when God would restore the people back to the land andthe treasures back to the Temple. You can read about it in Ezra 1:7-11. God's word was unstoppable and reliable. He was going to do what He said He was going to do. And we can rest in the knowledge that God is still going to do what He has said He is going to do. His Son IS going to return one day. He is going to judge all mankind one day. He is going to establish His kingdom on earth one day. He is going to send His Son to return for His church one day. God is going to do what He has said He is going to do. His Word stands.

Father, thank You that Your word is trustworthy and true. It can't be altered, changed, or stopped. Your promises and Your plan are unstoppable. May I find hope and comfort in that fact, even in the midst of all the uncertainty that seems to fill this life. Amen

The Bigger Picture.

Jeremiah 25

His cry of judgment will reach the ends of the earth, for the Lord will bring his case against all the nations. He will judge all the people of the earth, slaughtering the wicked with the sword. I, the Lord, have spoken! ­– Jeremiah 25:31 NLT

For 23 years, Jeremiah had been bringing his message of God's coming judgment to the people of Judah. Over and over again he called them to repent and return. He pleaded with them to turn away from their false gods and return to the one true God. But they continued to refuse Jeremiah's message and God's call. "Again and again the Lord has sent you his servants, the prophets, but you have not listened or even paid attention. Each time the message was this: 'Turn from the evil road you are traveling and from the evil things you are doing. Only then will I let you live in this land that the Lord gave to you and your ancestors forever. Do not provoke my anger by worshiping idols you made with your own hands. Then I will not harm you.’" (Jeremiah 25:4-6 NLT). The formula was simple: turn away from worshiping false gods and turn back to God, then they would escape destruction. But they refused His offer. The continued to live in open rebellion against God.

So God told them exactly what would happen – 20 years before it actually took place. He predicted the fall of Jerusalem and the 70 years of Babylonian captivity. He also predicted their return to the land after the 70 years of captivity. Then God went on to tell them what was going to take place beyond that point. He predicted the future destruction of the nations at the time of the second coming of Christ. God would be forced to deal with the growing sin and rebellion against Him by bringing one final round of punishment on them. This will all take place when Jesus returns the second time to the earth and judges the earth. "They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty. Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed. And the demonic spirits gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place with the Hebrew name Armageddon" (Revelation 16:14-16 NLT). The rebellion of mankind against God will continue. The destruction of Babylon was not going to stop nations from rising up against God. The restoration of Judah was not going to make the people of God return to Him. The nation of Israel continues in disobedience to God to this day. But there is a day coming when the Messiah will return to restore all things to the way they should be. He will bring an end to all wrong and restore righteousness to the land.

Then I saw heaven opened and here came a white horse! The one riding it was called “Faithful” and “True,” and with justice he judges and goes to war. His eyes are like a fiery flame and there are many diadem crowns on his head. He has a name written that no one knows except himself. He is dressed in clothing dipped in blood, and he is called the Word of God.  The armies that are in heaven, dressed in white, clean, fine linen, were following him on white horses. From his mouth extends a sharp sword, so that with it he can strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod, and he stomps the winepress of the furious wrath of God, the All-Powerful. He has a name written on his clothing and on his thigh: “King of kings and Lord of lords.” – Revelation 20:11-16 NET

God has a long-term plan for the world. He will not allow evil to win. He will make all things right. That is His promise to all mankind. And He has never failed to keep a single promise He has made.

Father, You are not done yet. You are still at work and You have a divine plan that You are working out in Your perfect timing. Your Son is going to return one day and restore all things. He will bring perfect righteousness to the land. Never let us lose sight of that fact. No matter how bad things may appear, You are still in control and working Your perfect plan to perfection. Amen

The Time Is Coming.

Jeremiah 23-24

"For the time is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this will be his name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’ In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety." ­– Jeremiah 23:5-6 NLT

"Trust me!" Those are words we hear a lot these days. They come from the lips of politicians, investment bankers, insurance salesmen, and even pastors. But the truth is, it's hard to know who to trust any more. Everybody seems to have their own version of the truth – one that tends to benefit them. The same was true in Jeremiah's day. There were all kinds of voices shouting their own version of the truth and trying to get the attention of the people. In fact, it appears Jeremiah had some serious competition. He wasn't the only prophet claiming to have a message from God, but he was the only prophet who was preaching a message of coming judgment. All the rest of them were busy telling the people just what they wanted to hear – that nothing was going to happen. Theirs was a message of hope, not judgment. According to them, God was not going to do any of the things Jeremiah was predicting. They were completely contradicting the words of Jeremiah. "They keep saying to those who despise my word, ‘Don’t worry! The Lord says you will have peace!’ And to those who stubbornly follow their own desires, they say, ‘No harm will come your way!’" (Jeremiah 23:17 NLT). So while Jeremiah was busy calling the people to repentance, they were telling them to relax. Everything was going to be all right. Not exactly the truth, but it was a lot easier on the ears.

These men were deceivers. They were making up everything they had to say and they weren't speaking on behalf of God. He didn't send them. He didn't commission them. God said, "I have not sent these prophets, yet they run around claiming to speak for me. I have given them no message, yet they go on prophesying" (Jeremiah 23:21 NLT). Their words were their own, not God's. They had not received a message from God – in spite of their claims to the contrary. So God warned, "Let these false prophets tell their dreams, but let my true messengers faithfully proclaim my every word. There is a difference between straw and grain!" (Jeremiah 23:28 NLT). Their words had no nourishment. They couldn't feed anyone or sustain life. Only the words of God could do that. These men were false witnesses, spreading lies and giving the people false hope. They were pseudo-shepherds who had no love for the sheep under their care. While they claimed to speak for God, they were really driving people away from God. They were causing them to reject His will for their lives. "By telling these false dreams, they are trying to get my people to forget me" (Jeremiah 23:17 NLT). They didn't like what God had to say, so they simply said what they knew the people wanted to hear.

And false prophets are alive and well today. There are still those who claim to speak on behalf of God, but who are making up their message and telling people what they want to hear – because a message of false hope is a whole lot easier to sell than a message of repentance and heart change. But telling people what they want to hear is dangerous – for the messenger and the hearer. Paul warned Timothy, "You're going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food – catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They'll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages" (2 Timothy 4:3-4 MSG). And then, just as now, there were those who were more than happy to accommodate the whims of the people by telling them what they wanted to hear. But God wants faithful shepherds. He wants truth tellers. He needs more Jeremiahs.

But here's the good news. There's a day coming when God will provide His own shepherd. He will raise up a righteous ruler who will reign in truth. He will do what is just and right. He will be called, "The Lord is Our Righteousness." And this shepherd will provide salvation for the people of Israel. He will be the Messiah, returning at the end of the ages to restore His people Israel. He will bring a message of hope – at just the right time. He will do away with judgment and destruction once and for all. When He comes, He will bring truth and righteousness. He will restore things back to the way they were intended to be. For all time. No more lies. No more deception. No more false words of hope that fail to deliver. God's Son will return and restore righteousness to the earth. He will bring His people home. He will return the scattered remnant of His people Israel to the land He had promised to Abraham all those years ago. And then Christ will reign over them as David's heir – in righteousness and truth.

Father, we must speak Your words and not our own. We must be faithful shepherds who are willing to speak truth even when it is not well received. You have a plan and there is a day when Your Son will restore all things. May we wait faithfully for that day. And while we wait, may we be faithful shepherds and true messengers, telling people what Your Word says – even when it is not well received. Amen

Do The Right Thing.

Jeremiah 20-22

This is what the Lord says: Be fair-minded and just. Do what is right! Help those who have been robbed; rescue them from their oppressors. Quit your evil deeds! Do not mistreat foreigners, orphans, and widows. Stop murdering the innocent! ­– Jeremiah 22:3 NLT

True righteousness reveals itself in right living. A real relationship with God will make a real difference in the way we live our lives. God expects His people to live as if they really know Him. But when He looked at the people of Judah – His chosen people – He saw a dichotomy. Their lives did not exhibit an understanding of His ways or a knowledge of His character. God specifically called the leadership of the nation to account, exposing their flawed character and self-centered tendencies. He accuses the kings of Judah of practicing injustice, oppressing the people, and murdering the innocent. Their actions did not reflect a knowledge of God. They may have been the kings over the people of God, but they did not live as if they knew God. Over and over again in these three chapters God uses Jeremiah to bring a message of indictment on the kings of Judah. He calls them to "Give justice each morning to the people you judge! Help those who have been robbed; rescue them from their oppressors. Otherwise, my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of all your sins" (Jeremiah 21:12 NLT). He tells them to "Attend to matters of justice. Set things right between people. Rescue victims from their exploiters. Don't take advantage of the homeless, the orphans, the widows. Stop the murdering!" (Jeremiah 22:3 MSG). This wasn't just about the sins of commission such as idolatry. It was about the sins of omission – like failing to do what was right, neglecting to provide justice to the oppressed and protection to the poor and helpless. God recalls the reign of Josiah, the last good king Judah had seen. He said He had blessed Josiah because he "was just and right in all his dealings" (Jeremiah 22:15b NLT). "He upheld the cause of the poor and needy. So things went well for Judah" (Jeremiah 22:16a NET).

Then God asks a sobering and rhetorical question: "Isn’t that what it means to know me?" To know God is to live for God. It is to live a life that reveals a heart for the things of God – like justice, mercy, compassion, and righteousness. It is to love what He loves and hate what He hates. But the kings of Judah had become enamored with their power and corrupted by their positions. Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, had put more value on constructing his royal palace than building a reputation as a man after God's own heart. But God told him, "a beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king!" (Jeremiah 22:15a NLT). Jehoiakim had all the outward trappings of success, but lacked a knowledge of God. He failed to do the right thing. He was not motivated by the things of God. His life was marked by greed and dishonesty, excess and self-centeredness.

We can claim to know God, but if our lives do not reflect a heart for the things of God, we end up living a lie. We can brag about having a relationship with God, but if it doesn't show up in our actions and attitudes, it ends up being a lie. The knowledge of God is not academic, but practical and personal. It makes a difference in the way we live. It changes our relationships. It determines our actions. It dictates our behavior. Because we know Him, we want to live in obedience to Him. His ways become our ways. His heart influences our hearts. His desires become our desires. His character influences our own character. We end up living what He loves: mercy, compassion, justice, righteousness – and hating what He hates: injustice, greed, dishonesty, hypocrisy, oppression. Isn't that what it really means to know Him?

Father, may our lives truly reflect that we know You – that we have a relationship with You. Don't let us say one thing and do another. May the way we live our lives reveal that we truly know You. Amen

Self-Righteous Indignation.

Jeremiah 18-19

Lord, you know all about their murderous plots against me. Don’t forgive their crimes and blot out their sins. Let them die before you. Deal with them in your anger. ­– Jeremiah 18:23 NLT

Jeremiah was angry. He was upset and ready to have God give the Israelites just what they deserved. In fact, he made it clear just what he wanted God to do to them. He told God to "let their children starve! Let them die by the sword! Let their wives become childless widows. Let their old men die in a plague, and let their young men be killed in battle! Let screaming be heard from their homes as warriors come suddenly upon them" (Jeremiah 18:21-22 NLT). Jeremiah was wishing the worst on these people – the same people he had interceded for on several occasions in the past. Why was he so upset? What had made him go from praying for God to spare them to praying that God would completely destroy them? Was it because they had offended God with their sinful practices or idolatrous ways? Was it because they stubbornly refused to obey God and keep His Law? Was it because they worshiped other gods and failed to give God the glory and honor He deserved? No, Jeremiah made it perfectly clear why he was so upset. He said, "For they have dug a pit for me and have hidden traps along my path" (Jeremiah 18:22b NLT). This was all about Jeremiah, not God. It seems that Jeremiah was more upset about their sins against HIM, than their sins against a holy God. When the people turned their attention toward Jeremiah and he started feeling the affects of their sinful ways, he suddenly became indignant.

What had happened? Basically, the people began to attack the messenger. Since they couldn't stop God, they decided to stop Jeremiah. They said, "Come on, let's cook up a plot against Jeremiah. We'll still have the priests to teach us the law, wise counselors to give us advice, and prophets to tell us what God has to say. Come on, let's discredit him so we don't have to put up with him any longer" (Jeremiah 18:18 MSG). They turned their attack on Jeremiah, and when they did, he became angry. But rather than righteous indignation, Jeremiah's was self-righteous. It was me-centered and self-focused. Jeremiah told God, "GOD, listen to me! Just listen to what my enemies are saying. Should I get paid evil for good? That's what they're doing. They've made plans to kill me! Remember all the times I stood up for them before you, speaking up for them, trying to soften your anger?" (Jeremiah 18:19-20 MSG). Suddenly, they were his enemies. He reminds God of all the good he had been doing, all the times he had stood up for these ungrateful wretches. It had become all about him, not God. Jeremiah's dander was up because he was beginning to feel the heat. But isn't that what we do? Isn't that how we react? We can tolerate the sins around us as long they don't sin against us. We can read about murder, rape, injustice, and greed – and tolerate it – until it comes home to roost. Just let something like that happen to us or to someone we know, then we can become angry and demand that God repay those who have harmed us. We can silently watch others suffer, but just let one thing happen to us, then we become highly vocal and vengeful. And worse yet, we can sit back and watch the world thumb its nose at a holy, righteous God who we say we believe in, but just let the world sin against us, then our self-righteous indignation explodes.

The sins of men are always against God. We may feel the impact of them, but they are direct against a holy God. The people were attacking Jeremiah because he was convenient. They couldn't get at God, so they chose to kill the messenger. Satan can't get at God, so he attacks us, and he uses those around us to do his dirty work. The Jews destroyed Jesus because they couldn't stand His message. But their sin was against God. And you don't see Jesus whining and complaining from the cross about how much He was having to suffer. He didn't call down wrath from heaven against those who were sneering and mocking Him. No, He said "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34 NLT). Two times before, Jesus had become angry when He walked into the Temple courtyard and saw how they had desecrated it and turned it into a carnival-like atmosphere where making money had become the focus instead of confessing sins. He practiced righteous indignation and cleared the place – because He saw their sins as an affront against a holy God. We should be angry when we see injustice and sin in the world. We should be upset when we see people destroy one another and snub their noses at a holy God. But we tend to tolerate a lot until it touches our lives. We can easily lose sight of the fact that the sins of man are always God-focused. That's what had happened to Jeremiah. But God made it clear to Jeremiah that their sins were against Him. He said, "This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will bring disaster upon this city and its surrounding towns as I promised, because you have stubbornly refused to listen to me.’” (Jeremiah 19:15 NLT). God was going to punish Judah for their sins against Him, not their sins against Jeremiah. It was about God, not Jeremiah. It is always about God. So the next time you are sinned against, remember that their sin is really directed at God. The next time you see sin taking place around you, examine your reaction to it. Does it bother you only if it directly impacts you? Does injustice in a place halfway around the world concern you? Do the sins being done every day in the face of the God you say you worship bother you? Are you indignant about a world that thumbs its nose in the face of your God? Or is your indignation more self-focused?

Father, it never ceases to amaze me how easy it is for us to make everything about US. Even the sins of others can become all about us. And we lose sight of the fact that the sins of all men are against You. But that doesn't seem to bother us. Open our eyes and let us become angry over mankind's sins against You. May our anger be at the flippant, flagrant sins committed against You every day. You are holy, righteous and just. You deserve better. Amen

Trust In The Lord.

Jeremiah 16-17

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. ­– Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT

In who or what do you place your trust? This is an important question to God. And it's one He knows the answer to, even if we don't. God knew that the people of Judah were no longer trusting in Him. They were trusting in other gods, other nations, their own strength, their king, and the military might of their army. But they were NOT trusting in God. And God told them what would happen for failing to trust Him. "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord." (Jeremiah 17:5 NLT). These individuals would be like stunted shrubs in the desert with no hope for the future. They would be barren, lifeless shrubs attempting to survive in harsh, drought conditions. No fruit. No life. Ho hope.

But God says that those who trust in Him – who put their hope and confidence in Him – will experience a completely different outcome. They will be like a tree that sits on the bank of a river flowing with life-giving water. They will grow and prosper. They will develop deep roots that reach down into the soil. So even if the times of drought come and the river dries up, they will still be able to survive and thrive because their roots will have access to an invisible source of nourishment. Their leaves will stay green and they will continue to produce fruit. This passage does not promise a lack of trouble or trials for those who trust in the Lord. It promises that those who place their trust in God will discover a source of strength and sustenance they didn't even know was there – even in the midst of struggles. They will find themselves producing fruit even in the most difficult of times. Because God is doing it in them and through them. He is the source of their fruitfulness. This is not a gut-it-up, pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps message. This is not telling us to work up our confidence or muster up some trust. The Hebrew word for trust carries the idea of confidence in something or someone else. It is a dependence or security found in the trustworthiness of another. It is less about my ability to trust than the other person's trustworthiness. I rest in and place my confidence in God, because He is fully trustworthy. The tree in God's analogy does not work at trusting in the water source, it simply takes advantage of it. It rests in it. And grows accordingly.

This passage reminds me of one of the prayers of Paul found in his letter to the Colossian church. Listen to what he says. "We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy…" (Colossians 1:9-11 NLT). What does Paul say is the key to living fruitful lives? It is the spiritual wisdom and understanding that comes from knowing God's will. It is resting in and trusting in God's will for our lives as revealed in His Word and disclosed through the indwelling Holy Spirit. As I seek and obey God's will, I will see fruit produced in my life – not by me, but by the Spirit of God. I will find myself growing spiritually and I will know that only God could have produced that growth, not me. As a result, I will grow to know Him better and better. And I will find strength in His power that gives me the power to endure and the patience I need to continue to trust Him. And this will produce in me a joy that rejoices even in the midst of trials.

It all begins when I place my trust in the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Because of what He has done, I can do what God has called me to do. I can live the life He has called me to live. I can rest in His provision and not in my own strength. I don't have to rely on human strength. Because it will fail me every time. But God never fails. He never runs dry. He never leaves me high and dry. I can trust Him.

Father, I want to learn to trust You more and more. I want to have a growing knowledge of Your will. I want to have spiritual wisdom and understanding so that my life will always honor and please You. I want my life to produce every kind of good fruit. But I know that none of that is possible in my own flesh. It must all come from You. And it was all made possible by You through Your Son's death on the cross. May I learn to rest in that fact more and more every day. Amen

A People Of Influence.

Jeremiah 14-15

If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you! ­– Jeremiah 15:19 NLT

Like all prophets, Jeremiah had a difficult job. He was commanded by God to preach a message of coming destruction if the people did not repent of their sins and return to God. Every day he had to point out the sins of the people and remind them of what God was going to do to them if they didn't stop. He had to tell the religious and political leaders that they were also doomed because of their lousy leadership. As a result, Jeremiah was anything but popular. He wasn't invited to parties or greeted warmly when passed on the streets. As God's representative, he was blamed for anything bad that was going on. And as if his job was not hard enough, he had to face competition. There were other prophets walking around, but their messages were contradictory to Jeremiah's. They were telling the people that, "all is well – no war of famine will come. The Lord will surely send you peace" (Jeremiah 14:13 NLT). Who do you think the people listened to? Jeremiah was a lone voice crying in the wilderness. His messages went unheeded. Jeremiah was a social pariah, a reluctant loner who cared deeply for the people of Judah, wanted to remain faithful to God, but who longed to have a normal life. At one point, he got so low that he prayed, "Unlucky mother – that you had me as a son, given the unhappy job of indicting the whole country! I've never hurt or harmed a soul, and yet everyone is out to get me" (Jeremiah 15:10 MSG). Jeremiah let the Lord know just how he felt: "I never joined the party crowd in their laughter and their fun. Led by you, I went off by myself. You'd filled me with indignation. Their sin had me seething. But why, why this chronic pain, this ever worsening wound and no healing in sight? You're nothing, GOD, but a mirage, a lovely oasis in the distance – and then nothing!" (Jeremiah 15:17-18 MSG). Jeremiah was feeling the affects of his occupation. He was wearing down and feeling low. You might say he was having a pity party.

But in the midst of Jeremiah's moment of sorrow, God responds. He doesn't blast Jeremiah for the brutal honesty of his prayer, but instead He encourages him. God fully understood what Jeremiah was feeling. He knew the difficulty of Jeremiah's job. It was not easy. But God needed Jeremiah to stand strong. He needed Jeremiah to complete the job he had been given. So God tells Jeremiah, "Take back those words, and I'll take you back. Then you'll stand tall before me. Use words truly and well. Don't stoop to cheap whining. Then, but only then, you'll speak for me. Let your words change [them]. Don't change your words to suit them. I'll turn you into a steel wall, a thick steel wall, impregnable. They'll attack you but won't put a dent in you because I'm at your side, defending and delivering. GOD's Decree" (Jeremiah 15:19-20 MSG). God knew just how difficult Jeremiah's job was, and He knew just how tempting it would be to just simple tell the people what they wanted to hear. Just by changing his message, Jeremiah could change his condition. He could become popular. He could go from social outcast to social butterfly, well-liked, well-known and well-received in all the right social circles. But that was not God's call on his life.

God needed Jeremiah to stand firm and remain strong. He wanted Jeremiah to stick to the truth, and remain faithful to the message he had been given, no matter how difficult it might become. And the same stands true for us today. A message of sin and repentance is not popular today. No one wants to hear that their a sinner in need of a Savior. No one wants to think that they might be guilty and in need of punishment. So the message of the Gospel falls on deaf ears. People reject the truth and search for alternative messages. Paul warned Timothy about this. "You're going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food – catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They'll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But [you] – keep your eye on what you're doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God's servant." (2 Timothy 4:3-5 MSG). We are called to be a people of influence, telling the truth of God, even when falsehood might make things easier on us. We are to remain faithful to the message God has given us and the task He has assigned us. Paul told Timothy, "Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or not,reprove, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and instruction" (2 Timothy 4:3 NET). Keep on keeping on. Remain strong. Be a people of influence.

Father, don't let me give up or grow weary. Your message of hope and salvation needs to be heard, even if no one wants to hear it. Keep me faithful to Your Word and Your calling. May I be a person of influence – but solely based on Your Word. Amen

God's Special Possession.

Jeremiah 12-13

I have abandoned my people, my special possession. I have surrendered my dearest ones to their enemies. My chosen people have roared at me like a lion of the forest, so I have treated them with contempt. ­– Jeremiah 12:7-8 NLT

Sometimes when we read a book like Jeremiah, we become calloused towards God as we read of His anger, wrath, and warnings of eminent destruction. We begin to see God as a vindictive and vengeful deity with a short temper and unrealistic expectations on His people. And it's easy to reach those conclusions when you read phrases like, "On all the bare hilltops, destroying armies can be seen. The sword of the Lord devours people from one end of the nation to the other. No one will escape!" (Jeremiah 12:12 NLT). Or how about, "I myself will strip you and expose you to shame"? (Jeremiah 13:26 NLT). It would be easy to build a case from those verses that God is uncaring and heartless, eager to bring destruction on the disobedient. But that would be a wrong conclusion and a dramatically false understanding of God.

Woven throughout all the messages of destruction are the clear indications of God's unfailing love. He repeatedly refers to the nation of Judah with phrases like my people, my special possession, my dearest ones, my chosen people, and my vineyard. These are not the words of a dispassionate, uncaring deity with destruction on His mind. They are expressions of love and affection. God cares for His people. He longs to bless them, but because He is holy and righteous, He must deal righteously and justly with their sin. He cannot overlook their sins. He must do what is right. He must punish those who break the Law. But He does not do so joyfully. Like a proud and loving father, He is having to punish His disobedient children. He chose them from among all the nations of the world. He grew them from nothing – from one man, Abraham, to a nation that numbered in the millions. He had rescued them out of captivity in Egypt. He had led them across the wilderness for 40 years, tolerating their disobedience and sin, then leading them into the very land He had promised to give them. He gave them victories over superior foes. He provided houses and cities to live in that they didn't have to build and vineyards they didn't have to plant. He gave them His Law to guide all their daily activities and the sacrificial system to provide forgiveness and restoration when they failed to keep the Law. He had given them judges and prophets to guide and redirect them when they strayed. All along the way God had proven His love for them. But enough was enough. Their sin had become too great to ignore. Their rebellion had become intolerable.

But God was not pleased with what He was having to do. To prove it God gave Jeremiah a visual illustration of what this meant to Him. He had Jeremiah buy a linen loincloth. This was an intimate undergarment that was worn close to the skin. Jeremiah would have had to have sacrificed financially to buy a linen one. Then God told Jeremiah to put it on. But before long, Jeremiah was instructed to take it off and hide it in a hole in the rocks down by the river. After a long time had passed, Jeremiah was told to go and retrieve the linen loincloth. But it was ruined. It was rotting and falling apart – it was good for nothing. Jeremiah could not wear it any longer. It was useless, wasted, and no longer able to function as it had been intended. And God says, "This shows how I will rot away the pride of Judah and Jerusalem" (Jeremiah 13:9 NLT). God compares Judah to the loincloth. Because they refuse to listen to Him and stubbornly follow after their own desires and worship other gods, God says, "they will become like this loincloth — good for nothing! As a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I created Judah and Israel to cling to me, says the Lord. They were to be my people, my pride, my glory — an honor to my name. But they would not listen to me" (Jeremiah 13:10-11 NLT). God had chosen the nation of Judah to have an intimate relationship with Him. They were to be His special possession. But instead of enjoying their place as His people, they turned against Him and turned to other gods instead. They spurned God's love and attention. They refused His affection. They rejected His gracious favor. And how do you think God felt? God, who is perfect love, was spurned and rejected. He was rejected. The one who was love, was unloved. But God was not punishing them because they refused to love Him. He was punishing them because of their sin. And yet, in spite of their sin, God was not washing His hands of them altogether. He would bring punishment, but He would also bring restoration. Not only to Judah, but to the nations as well. He promised, "afterward I will return and have compassion on all of them. I will bring them home to their own lands again, each nation to its own possession" (Jeremiah 12:15 NLT). He will punish, but He will also have compassion. He will rebuke, but He will also restore. He is a holy, righteous, just, and demanding God, but He is also a loving, merciful, gracious, patient and forgiving God. All He asks is that we return and repent. He always stands ready to forgive and restore. Because that is who He is.

Father, even in your anger, You are loving. Everything You do is bathed in love – even when I can't see it or understand it. You love us more than we could ever know. You discipline us in love. You restore us in love. Everything about You is love because You ARE love. Never let me lose sight of that fact. Amen

A Knowledge of the Truth.

Jeremiah 10-11

I know, GOD, that mere mortals can't run their own lives, That men and women don't have what it takes to take charge of life. So correct us, GOD, as you see best. Don't lose your temper. That would be the end of us. ­– Jeremiah 10:23-24 MSG

This prayer of Jeremiah sits right in the middle of two interesting sections of Scriptures. In one, Jeremiah compares the ubiquitous idols that had become so prevalent in Judah with the majesty of the one true God. He exposes the lunacy of worshiping something that you made with your own hands – a block of wood that can't speak, walk, or keep itself from falling over. He expresses the power of God reflected in His creation of all things, from the earth itself to the wind, rain, thunder and lightning – and even Israel itself. God is no idol! He is all-powerful creator of the universe.

In second section, God reminds the people of Judah about the covenant He had made with them all the way back to Mount Sinai. This was a conditional covenant – an if-then agreement that came with conditions and consequences. If they obeyed the terms of the covenant, they would receive blessings from God. If they disobeyed, they would experience curses. God had told them, "Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me" (Exodus 19:5 NLT). Their obedience to God's Law is what truly set them apart as His people. They were to belong to Him. They were to live their lives according to His terms, not their own. This is what would set them apart and prove their position as His special treasure. But the people of God refused to obey God, and the proliferation of idols were proof. And it had been going on for generations. God said, "but your ancestors did not listen or even pay attention. Instead, they stubbornly followed their own evil desires. And because they refused to obey, I brought upon them all the curses described in this covenant" (Jeremiah 11:8 NLT). And God accused the current generation of Israelites of doing the same thing their ancestors had done. "There's a conspiracy among the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem. They've plotted to reenact the sins of their ancestors – the ones who disobeyed me and decided to go after other gods and worship them. Israel and Judah are in this together, mindlessly breaking the covenant I made with their ancestors" (Jeremiah 9-10 MSG). And according to the terms of the covenant, their disobedience warranted God's punishment.

But right in the middle of these two passages, Jeremiah prayers a short, but powerful prayer. In it He expresses a clear understanding of who God is and the reality of man's inability to control their own lives. He says, "I know, GOD, that mere mortals can't run their own lives, That men and women don't have what it takes to take charge of life. So correct us, GOD, as you see best. Don't lose your temper. That would be the end of us" (Jeremiah 10:23-24 MSG). Jeremiah knew the undeniable truth that men and women were incapable of making wise decisions, keeping their commitments, or living in obedience to God's Laws. They couldn't help from creating idols and worshiping them, even as idiotic as it might seem to bow down to a block of wood you carved and carried around with your own hands. Jeremiah also knew that mankind deserved to be corrected. The Hebrew word he uses for "correction" is yacar and it means "to chasten, chastise, correct, instruct, punish, reform, reprove, instruct, or teach." He confesses their inability to live the life God had called them to live and acknowledges that their actions warrant God's correction. But he seemed to understand that even God's punishment was constructive. He would not only reprove them, but reform them through His discipline. Jeremiah knew that God loved them in spite of their actions. So he calls on God to correct them, because he believed that God knew what was best for them. And if punishment from the hands of a loving God could turn their hearts back to Him, then so be it. But Jeremiah also asks that God not punish them in anger. He asks that God temper His rebuke with love. Because he knew that no man could stand against the unbridled wrath of an angry, righteous and holy God.

Jeremiah knew God. And he knew the truth about man. So he appealed to God for His mercy and grace. He trusted God to do the right thing. He knew that they were getting what they deserved, but he asked that God be gracious, loving and gentle with them. Because they were incapable of doing what was right. They needed God's correction, but mixed with mercy, compassion, patience and love.

Father, Jeremiah's prayer could be the prayer of every one of us today. We need to confess our inability to run our own lives. We can't keep all the balls in the air. We can't make it all work. We are incapable of living up to Your holy standards and so we fail You on a regular basis. But You love us and know our weaknesses. You stand ready to forgive us if we will just confess our sins to You. If we will admit our inability to live holy lives and come to You in weakness and dependence, You will give us what we need to live the lives You've called us to live. You are a great God. You are a loving and merciful God. You want to help us live lives that reflect our position as Your sons and daughters. We just have to admit that we can't do it without You. Amen

A True Knowledge of God.

Jeremiah 8-9

But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken! ­– Jeremiah 9:24 NLT

"'They do not know me,' says the Lord." (Jeremiah 9:3b NLT). Among all the accusations God levels against His people, this is probably the most telling one. It explains their actions and attitudes. It begins to make some sense of the way they had been living their lives and treating their God. They just didn't know Him. They didn't know His heart or understand His character. And because they didn't know Him, they didn't understand His Law and the reason He had given it in the first place. It just became a list of rules and regulations to keep. It because burdensome and not beneficial. They had somehow mistakenly assumed that because they had the Law, the Temple, and were designated as God's chosen people, they were safe. Yet God accused them of not even knowing His Law, of desecrating the Temple and of not living lives that reflected their position as His chosen people. Their lifestyles did not reflect a knowledge or understanding of God.

They were more apt to boast in their own wisdom, power and wealth, than in God. They put more confidence in those things than they did in God. But God said that what was really worth boasting about was having a knowledge of Him. They didn't understand the love of God. The Hebrew word for this kind of love is hesed and it refers to loyalty, loving kindness, steadfast love, unfailing devotion, merciful love. If they truly understood that their God loved in that way, they would have turned back to Him. But instead, they refused to return. They also didn't understand that their God was a God of justice and righteousness. He had to do what was right. He had to punish sin, but He also had to provide salvation. He had to keep His promises. Because He is righteous. The Hebrew word for righteousness is sedaqa and it carries with it not only the idea of rightness and integrity, but salvation and deliverance. God was going to do what was right on the earth. He would not and could not tolerate sin, injustice, and indifference to His will. But the people of Judah did not understand any of this, because they didn't really know Him.

They also didn't know that God expected His people to delight in and live according to these same qualities of love, justice, righteousness, integrity and truth. To truly know God is to put a high value on what He values, and to make them a part of our lives. This is not about what you want or what the world agrees upon as the standard for living, but what the living God of the universe deems of value and worth. It is about knowing and understanding the character and will of God, and making His priorities our own. When we truly know God, we will want to see the character and qualities of God displayed in our own life – unfailing love, justice, mercy, righteousness, and fairness. Our lives will reflect that we know God and love what He loves. One of my favorites prayers in the Bible is a prayer that Paul prayed on behalf of the Christians living in Colossae. He said, "Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need" (Colossians 1:9-11 NLT).

Father, You have chosen to have a relationship with mankind. You have chosen to make Yourself known to us through Your Word and Your Son, Jesus Christ. You have displayed Your character through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. You have given us a glimpse into your character through the revelation of Your Word. We have no excuse for not knowing who You are and what You are all about. But give us an increasing desire to know You. To learn to know You better and better. Amen

Don't Follow Your Heart.

Jeremiah 7

But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward. ­– Jeremiah 7:24 NLT

Following your heart's desires can be a dangerous activity – unless your heart happens to be devoted to God. But for many of us, just like the Israelites, our hearts are driven by something other than obedience and devotion to God. We are heavily influenced by the world and motivated by passions that are less-than-godly. James said, "Temptation comes from our own desires which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death" (James 1:14-15 NLT). Our hearts are the center of our will and emotions, our thinking and decision-making. In Hebrews we read, "let us draw near [to God] with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings, because we have had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water" (Hebrews 10:22 NET). We have had our hearts purified by the work of Christ on the cross. But even as believers we can allow our hearts to turn from God. The writer of Hebrews warns us, "Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still 'today,' so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ" (Hebrews 3:12-14 NLT).

God is all about heart transformation. He wants to change the very center of our being, where decisions are made, from where our emotions flow, the very source of our thinking, actions, and attitudes. Jesus said, "A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart" (Luke 6:45 NLT). What flows from our heart is an indicator of the condition of our hearts. Lust, greed, worry, anxiety, fear, anger – all these things reveal the condition of our hearts. They also reveal the allegiance of our hearts. We are loving something other than God – either ourselves, the world, or both. God wants our hearts. He wants our devotion. He wants our wills to be dedicate to Him. He isn't interested in our all our "spiritual" sacrifices, activities, and religious busyness. In fact, God told the people of Judah, "When I led your ancestors out of Egypt, it was not burnt offerings and sacrifices I wanted from them. This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!’" (Jeremiah 7:22-23 NLT). God wanted their obedience – obedience that came from the heart, out of love and a sense of devotion. But instead, "they kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts" (Jeremiah 7:24b NLT). When our hearts are in tune with and in touch with God, they can lead us effectively and safely. When we allow our hearts to drift away from Him and become influenced by the world and our sinful nature, we run the risk of making unwise and potentially harmful decisions. Following the desires of a heart that is not devoted to God can be a dangerous habit. But a heart that is devoted to God, influenced by the Word of God, and empowered by the Spirit of God will lead us to faithfully obey God.

Father, it's all about the heart. Continue to change mine. Keep me in Your Word so Your Spirit can speak to my heart, cleansing me from self-worship and pride. Make my heart increasingly more tender towards You. Amen

No Heart For God.

Jeremiah 5-6

They do not say from the heart, "Let us live in awe of the Lord our God, for he gives us rain each spring and fall, assuring us of a harvest when the time is right.’" ­– Jeremiah 5:24 NLT

This is all about the heart. Yesterday we talked about stubbornness of heart. The people of Israel had grown callous and cold, their hearts were no longer sensitive toward God. They were stubborn and hard-headed, determined to live their lives their own way, rejecting God and His ways. These were the people of God. He had chosen them. He had rescued them out of bondage in Egypt. He had led them across the wilderness; feeding, leading, clothing, guiding, instructing, and providing for them all along the way. He had given them the land He had promised them. He had given them His Law. He had provided them with His tabernacle and the assurance of His presence. He had displayed His power over and over again. He had given them victory in battle, cities they had not built, homes they had not constructed, vineyards they had not planted, and a life they did not deserve. And in return, they had rejected Him. But what would cause someone to react that way to the One who had done so much for them? They didn't really know Him. To them, God was nothing more than a disembodied force, a power they could tap into when it was convenient. He was a resource that could prove handy at certain times, but a little restricting at others. They had no real respect for God. No awe. No regard for His power, majesty, might, holiness, justice, and righteous standards. Which is why God asked, "Have you no respect for me? Why don't you tremble in my presence?" (Jeremiah 5:22 NLT). They had no understanding or knowledge of God. They did not connect the dots. "They do not say from the heart, 'Let us live in awe of the Lord our God, for he gives us rain each spring and fall, assuring us of a harvest when the time is right'" (Jeremiah 5:24 NLT). Even the simplistic realization that their very existence was tied to God did not help them develop a healthy respect for Him. They couldn't see that their ability to eat, live, and survive were directly linked to God. Because they were foolish and senseless, unable to see and hear (Jeremiah 5:21).

They had lost the ability to recognize God in their midst. They could no longer see His power, hear His voice, or comprehend what He was doing in their midst. They even denied that He was doing anything at all (Jeremiah 5:12-13). They viewed God as distant, disembodied and disinterested in what they were doing. So they no longer listened to what He was saying. They had developed stubborn and rebellious hearts (Jeremiah 5:23). The Hebrew word for "heart" is leb and it does not refer to the organ that pumps blood. It is talking about the mind, the seat of the emotions, our capacity for understanding. It is what drives our actions and behaviors. Their hearts were no longer sensitive to God. They had no sense of God. They did not thing about God. He was not a part of their decision-making process. They rejected His Word, refusing to listen to what He had to say. They didn't really know Him. They didn't understand Him. So they rejected Him. They replaced Him. And in doing so, they offended Him. But God continued to offer them a chance to return. He said, "Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls" (Jeremiah 6:16 NLT). Stop, open your eyes, see what God has been doing and is doing all around you. Live your life according to His terms – the godly way. Develop an understanding of and appreciation for God. He desires for us to know Him, not just know about Him. He wants to reveal Himself to us. He wants to display His power around us. But like the Israelites, we say, "No, that's not the road we want!" (Jeremiah 6:16b NLT). And we miss out on knowing God.

Father, we live lives blinded by the things of this world. We can't see You for who You really are. We can't hear You because we are so busy listening to the noise of this world. We don't know You. We just know about You. Our knowledge of You is limited and incomplete. Open our eyes and ears, help us to see You in our midst. Help us to understand who You really are. Take the blinders off so that our understanding of You can expand and our respect for You can increase. Amen

A Change of Heart.

Jeremiah 4

Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns. O people of Judah and Jerusalem, surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the Lord. ­– Jeremiah 4:3-4 NLT

The people of Judah needed a change of heart. They needed to return to the Lord in submission and obedience, but their hearts were preventing them from doing so. They stubbornly clung to their own will and did thing their own way. God told them, "if you wanted to return to me, you could. You could throw away your detestable idols and stray away no more" (Jeremiah 4:1 NLT). They could return – if they wanted to. But their return to God would be predicated on their hearts having changed, because that was the source of their problems. Their hearts were hard – like hard-packed, sun-baked soil where only thorns could survive. They were characterized by pride and obsessed with their own power. Self-centeredness and self-sufficiency were destroying them. But until they admitted it and humbled their hearts before God, nothing was going to change – including God's determination to bring destruction onthem.

The only thing preventing them from enjoying the blessings of God again was the stubbornness of their own hearts. In the Hebrew, God somewhat graphically tells them to "circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskin of your heart" (Vs 4). He uses a reference to the rite of circumcision, giving by God to the people of Israel as a sign of their distinctive relationship to Him. It was a physical reminder of their everlasting covenant with God as His chosen people (Genesis 17:9-14). Every Jewish male was to have been circumcised on the eighth day after his birth. But now God was telling them to circumcise their hearts. Removing the foreskins of the heart meant they were to remove the lusts and longings of the heart that were driving them to turn from God and seek after idols. God was looking for heart change and still is. Over in his letter to the Romans, Paul says, "For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people" (Romans 2:28-29 NLT).

True circumcision is a change of heart produced by God's Spirit. The Jews did not have the benefit of God's indwelling Spirit. Their heart change was complicated by a lack of ability. Their efforts at attempting to keep the Law and love God were hampered by their own flesh. They were sinful human beings trying to live sinless lives. And they were failing. But we have the Holy Spirit. As believers we are filled with the very presence and power of God. We have the capacity to change our hearts and therefore, completely alter our behavior. And God is going to do the same thing for the Jews one day. He has promised it over in the book of Ezekiel. He will one day make it possible for the Jews to do what was once impossible – love and serve Him faithfully. "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart" (Ezekiel 36:25-26 NLT). God is one day going to do for the Jews what He has done for every one of us as believers. He is going to replace their hearts of stone with hearts that are tender and responsive toward Him. Because He knows that our hearts, left unchanged, are incapable of loving Him. Only God can change the human heart. Only He can give us the capacity to love and be loved, to serve faithfully, to sacrifice our wills willingly, to obey Him completely, to love others selflessly. God is about permanent heart transformation, not temporary behavior modification. And only He can make it happen.

Father, You have given me a new heart. You have given me a new capacity to love You faithfully and obediently. But because of my sin nature, I still struggle. I still find it easy to give in to my old self and turn away from You. May Your Holy Spirit find my life like well-plowed soil, receptive to His efforts at cultivating holiness in my life. Amen

Just Admit It.

Jeremiah 2-3

For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me — the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all! ­– Jeremiah 2:13 NLT

Stubbornness is a terrible thing to behold. Whether it is in a child with a will that refuses to yield, a dog with a rag that it won't let go of, or a believer who refuses to admit their own guilt. To sin is one thing. To sin and then refuse to acknowledge it, own up to it, and repent of it is another thing altogether. It compounds our sin and makes forgiveness impossible. When we read Jeremiah's message to the people of Judah, it repeatedly addresses their incredible stubbornness. Their sins were obvious – they were all around them for everyone to see – including God. But instead of admit them, they denied them. And instead of acknowledge that their false gods had never done anything for them, they kept going back to them. God describes their gods as cracked cisterns. These were man-made receptacles designed to catch and contain rain water in a land that was prone to drought. Instead of turning to God, the fountain of living water, who could quench all their spiritual thirsts, they came up with their own way of meeting their needs. But it didn't work. Their cisterns couldn't hold water. Their gods couldn't deliver or protect. Their alliances with other nations couldn't prevent destruction. Yet they kept doing the same thing over and over again – stubbornly and persistently.

And they stubbornly denied their guilt. They tenaciously refused to admit that they had done anything wrong."And yet you say, ‘I have done nothing wrong. Surely God isn’t angry with me!’ But now I will punish you severely because you claim you have not sinned" (Jeremiah 2:35 NLT). Instead, they blamed God for their predicament. In place of confession, they complained. They blamed. They passed the buck. Yet, when things went bad, God was the one they would turn to demanding that He do something. "They turn their backs on me, but in times of trouble they cry out to me, ‘Come and save us!’" (Jeremiah 2:27b NLT). But God kept pleading for them to return. He called for them come back to Him because He was merciful and forgiving. He only asked that they do one thing: Acknowledge their guilt. Admit that they had rebelled against Him. Confess that they had refused to listen to Him. RETURN to Him in humility, brokenness and genuine sorrow over their sin. God makes the same offer to you and me today. He reminds us in His Word, "…if we admit our sins – make a clean breast of them – he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing" (1 John 1:9 MSG). But how often do we stubbornly cling to our sins, refusing to admit them? Forgiveness is as close as the tip of our tongues, but we stubbornly refuse to speak the words that could bring release and restoration – "I have sinned."

It reminds me of the story Jesus told of the prodigal or wayward son, who decided to return home, after having blown his inheritance pursuing a sinful lifestyle. He came to his father and said, "Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son" (Luke 15:21 NLT). But he didn't get the reaction he was expecting. Instead of anger and rejection, he encountered something different altogether. "But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began" (Luke 15:22-24 NLT). Let the party begin!

Father, Your patience with me is incredible. In spite of all my stubbornness and pride, You keep calling me to come back to You. You keep pleading with me to simply confess my sins, admit that I have built my own cracked cisterns – poor, faulty replacements for You. I have worshiped gods of my own making – from power and prestige to popularity and possessions. And all You ask is that I admit it. Come to You in repentance and humility and own up to my sin. And You will restore me. You will clothe me in righteousness once again. You will restore me to favor and throw a party on my behalf. What an amazing God You are! Amen

Strength For The Task.

Jeremiah 1

For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land — the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah. ­– Jeremiah 1:18 NLT

Jeremiah was 20 years old. He was an unknown young man from the little town of Anathoth, just three miles northeast of Jerusalem. He was the son of a priest, but did not seem to have received any priestly training himself. One minute he was just another young Jewish man planning out his future, then everything changed. He received a call from God informing him that he was being appointed God's prophet to the nations. Jeremiah knew what this meant. He had lived long enough to see and hear the words of Zephaniah, God's current spokesperson. He knew being a prophet was not an easy task. It was not for the weak or timid. So Jeremiah responded, "O Sovereign Lord, I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” (Jeremiah 1:6 NLT). He gave God an excuse. He used his youth and inexperience as a reason to reject God's calling. But God had set him apart for this job before he was even born. He knew what Jeremiah would be doing before he was even conceived in his mother's womb. God had plans for Jeremiah and told him so. "Don’t say, 'I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (Jeremiah 1:7-8 NLT). God's call was non-negotiable. This was not a request, but a command. He was going to do what God was calling him to do, and God wold equip him to do so.

The message Jeremiah was going to have to deliver to the people of Judah was not an easy one. He would not be popular. He was not going to be invited to a lot of parties or find himself with a lot of friends. His was going to be a message of judgment and coming destruction. He was to call the people to repentance and warn them of God's coming wrath if they didn't. Jeremiah was going to be a social pariah, an outcast. He would be hated. He would be ostracized. He would be threatened with death. But God assured him, "I have made you strong. You will stand against the whole land. They will fight you, but they will fail." (Jeremiah 1:18-19 NLT). God was going to be with Jeremiah and take care of Him all along the way. His message was God's message. He was going to be God's spokesperson delivering His words to His people. God never promised Jeremiah that this would be an easy job. He told him that he would face opposition. He warned him that he would have to stand against the whole land – from the kings and officials to the priests and people. Speaking truth is never easy. Being a prophet was not a popularity contest. It was about obedience and faithfulness to God's word. For the next four decades Jeremiah was going to have a full-time job speaking on behalf of God, delivering a less-than-pleasant message to a more-than-stubborn people. But God was with Him. He would protect and use Him. He would provide strength for the task. And He'll do the same thing for you today.

Father, the life You have called us to is not an easy one. In many ways, we are prophets speaking Your truth in the midst of a people who don't want to hear it. We are called to live lives that are set apart, distinctive and different from the world around us. We are to called to love those around us by telling them the truth about sin and the hope for salvation through Jesus Christ. Give us the strength we need for the task. Help us learn what it means to obey from the life of Jeremiah. Amen

Now, And Not Yet.

Zephaniah 2-3

For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful song. ­– Zephaniah 3:17 NLT

There is a sense in which most, if not all, of biblical prophesy has a now, and not yet, aspect to it. Much of what the prophets were predicting was to take place in the immediate context of their hearers. Destruction was to come soon. But then, there is another aspect of prophesy that was usually delayed for a future date. It is still yet to be fulfilled. Zephaniah 2-3 contains both of these elements of prophesy. God was going to bring destruction on Jerusalem, as well as Philistia, Assyria, Moab, Ammon, and Ethiopia – and He did. Those prophecies have been fulfilled. But Zephaniah also talks of a future restoration and redemption of Judah that has not yet taken place. In spite of Jerusalem's open and ongoing rebellion against God, He will one day restore them to favor. He will return the Jews to the land of promise and re-establish the throne of David in Jerusalem. This has all yet to take place and will not be fulfilled until the Millennial Kingdom of Christ is established at the end of the Great Tribulation. It will be a marvelous day in which God promises to "purity the speech of all people, so that everyone can worship the Lord together (Zephaniah 3:9 NLT). God also promises that He will live among His people again. He will bless them with His presence. Their troubles will all be over and they will never have to fear disaster again. He will take great delight in them and rejoice over them. But that day has not yet happened.

Or has it? This promise was to the people of Judah and the Jewish nation. It has yet to be fulfilled. But God will keep His promise to them because He is a promise keeping God. He will do what He said He would do. But there is a sense in which we, as Gentiles and followers of Jesus Christ, have seen this prophesy fulfilled – in part. Because when God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, He came as Emmanual, which means "God with us." God came and dwelt among men. He lived among us. And then He died among us and for us. But when Christ was resurrected and returned to the Father's side in heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to live within us. The very Spirit of God not only dwells among men, but in them – in those who have placed their faith and hope in the saving work of Jesus Christ. For us, in a real sense, the words of Zephaniah have already been fulfilled: "For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a might savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs" (Zephaniah 3:17 NLT). God is with us and in us. The Holy Spirit comforts us, directs us, convicts us, and teaches us. The Lord Himself, the King of Israel, not only lives among us, He lives in us! We no longer need to fear disaster. We no longer have to worry about death, because He has conquered it. We no longer have to fear condemnation, because He has removed it. We no longer have to sin, because He has given us new hearts. God is with us. He lives among us. He has filled us with His Spirit and empowered us to live lives that are set apart, distinctive, joyful, powerful, and a glimpse of what is yet to come.

Father, You are among us and in us. You have given us Your Spirit and transplanted new hearts within us. We have access to Your power and the promise of Your indwelling presence – at all times. We have much to be grateful for and so much more to be hopeful for. May we live as if You live within us. May our lives reflect Your presence and power every day of our lives. Amen

Comfortably Complacent.

Zephaniah 1

I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners to punish those who sit complacent in their sins. They think the Lord will do nothing to them, either good or bad. ­– Zephaniah 1:12 NLT

Josiah, the great reformer king sits on the throne. Zephaniah, the great, great, grandson of Hezekiah, was God's prophet delivering His words of coming judgment on the people of Judah. The northern kingdom of Israel had fallen in 722 B.C. to the Assyrians. But the southern nation of Judah is enjoying relative peace. Because King Josiah was moved to repentance upon hearing the words of the book of the Law, rediscovered while making renovations to the Temple, God had spared the nation from defeat at the hands of the Assyrians. They were enjoying a time of relative peace and prosperity. And while Josiah had instituted significant reforms in the nation by removing all physical displays of idol worship and re-establishing the annual celebration of Passover, much of it proved to be external in nature. The peoples' hearts had failed to change. They were going through the motions, displaying a form of commitment to God, but their hearts were not in it. And God knew it. They had become complacent in their sin, still seeking after other gods and forsaking the one true God. They were just as guilty of spiritual adultery as they had ever been. They had grown comfortable with their sin and no longer feared God. So God sent Zephaniah with a message of coming judgment. He was no longer going to tolerate their willful disobedience and arrogant displays of contempt for His Law.

While the people of Judah were content to follow Josiah's demands for reform, and go through the motions of sacrifice and adherence to the Law, they were still hedging their bets and worshiping other gods at the same time. Religion had become their god, not Yahweh. If Josiah's reforms could bring them prosperity and peace, then they were all for it. As long as it did not require them to change their lifestyles, they were perfectly find with it all. If worshiping Yahweh would stave off destruction and allow them to live their lives the way they wanted to live them, then they were more than willing to add Him to their list of gods.

"Wherever excitement in religion becomes an end in itself and wherever the cult of 'what helps' replaces joy in 'what's true,' Baal is worshiped." – J. Alec Motyer, "Zephaniah," in The Minor Prophets, p. 899

But God was not after religion, He wanted a relationship based on love, obedience, reverential fear, and faithfulness. He knew that these people "no longer ask for the Lord's guidance or seek my blessings" (Zephaniah 1:6b NLT). They put more trust in their prosperity and financial stability than they did in the God who provided it. Religion for them had become a means to an end. They worshiped to get. They sought after any and every god because they wanted to make sure they had all their bases covered. They believed the gods existed for their benefit, not the other way around. Religion had become nothing more than a tool to get what they wanted or protect what they already had. The more gods, the merrier, seemed to be their life philosophy. But God had other ideas. He had something else in mind. He had different expectations of His people. And He was about to make those expectations and the penalty for ignoring them painfully clear.

Father, how guilty we are of making religion some kind of a game we play. We make it a means to an end where we get to determine the outcome. We worship based on what we think we will get out of it. We tend to give to get. But You are looking for those who will worship You out of love, respect and faithfulness. You are looking for those who seek You because You first sought them. Like the people of Judah, we can end up going through the motions, giving the appearance of religious reform, but lacking the heart change that must accompany it. Forgive us for our complacency with the sin in our lives and our comfortableness with the world and its ways. Amen