SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 1-6
Though these words seem harsh, you need to hear God’s heart through them.
How gladly would I treat you like my children and give you a pleasant land, the most beautiful inheritance of any nation. I thought you would call me ‘Father’ and not turn away from following me. (Jeremiah 3:19)
This is God’s desire, to love and bless us, even as we love and bless Him.
God really wants us to be happy and blessed, yet we often resist Him and His love.
But like a woman unfaithful to her husband, so you, Israel, have been unfaithful to me, declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 3:20)
This is God’s frustration, that we love ourselves and our own pleasures more than Him.
To some degree, we all have wandering hearts.
The question for is ‘what am I loving more than God’?
What are the ‘gods’ or ‘idols’ that we cling to for happiness, instead of God?
We will all have different answers, but all of us will find something.
God’s desire is to love and bless me, even as I love and bless Him.
God’s frustration – then and now – is that we prefer to love and bless ourselves.
Through Jeremiah, God is inviting us – or warning us – to find our greatest happiness in Him.
If we do, we will not be disappointed; if we do not, we will be disappointed.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, You are bringing to my mind the things I am loving more than You. Help me to hear Your heart, and respond with my own heart.
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
Observation/Application
The Word of the Lord comes to His servants and He gives what is needed for kingdom service. He equips. Tune in. Listen. Do. He is with His servants.
But the people go astray and made their own gods following what their eyes see and making their own wrong ways right in their own eyes. They rebelled and went their own way – a way that has no power or vision or righteousness. Lost in their own way listening to heir own voice.
Yet God is a faithful God Who receives His people if they but turn from their wrongful ways and run to Him declaring the error of their ways – the prodigal.
God is faithful.
We the people are unfaithful
relishing their own ways
and blinded by them.
Once again the refrain – eyes they have and do not see. Ears they have but do not hear.
All of our actions are before the Lord.
He is the Ruler yet
and will bring justice.
Walk in His way to find rest.
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver.
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold.
Chorus:
Refiner’s fire, my heart’s one desire
Is to be holy, set apart for You, Lord.
I choose to be holy, set apart for You, my Master;
Ready to do Your will
Purify my heart;
Cleanse me from within and make me holy;
Purify my heart;
Cleanse me from my sin, deep within.