SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 9:7-16
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Here we see that God disciplines His people to refine them. The reason we criticize God for being so harsh is because we minimize our sin, we tend to dismiss its seriousness and to see God as extreme. In reality, our sin is VERY SERIOUS, and it has devastating consequences for all those around us.
God does not create cruel tortures to teach His people a lesson, He allows them to experience the consequences of their own cruelty and immorality. If I live by deception, I will be treated with deception. If I live by cruelty, I will be treated with cruelty. The Bible says that we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7-8).
What am I sowing with my life. Am I sowing selfishness, then I will reap selfishness from others. Am I sowing peace, then I will reap peace from others. (James 3:17-18). This is reason for me to take my sins seriously, for they will come back to haunt me. The best thing for me to do is repent, daily, and to seriously and sincerely strive to sow the kind of life that pleases God and benefits others… and me!
PRAYER:
Lord, forgive me for blaming or criticizing You when I suffer, and for not taking my own sin seriously enough. Help me to see that this world is a miserable place not because You made it that way, but we did! Help me to repent… Amen.
The people die for lack of knowledge. They have become a law unto themselves. They do what is right in their own eyes. They are stubborn insisting that their way is the right way. And their sinfulness goes from one generation to the next.
Because of this, the Lord will discipline His people. God has many ways to turn the land of plenty into a desert place. Where their is no God, the people perish. There was no room for God in their hearts. No room in the inn.
God’s way is the only way. God speaks always to His people saying do this and live. By Your Spirit Lord, help me always hear You speaking to me. Help me to see You daily how You also speak to the world today in order to turn the people from their evil ways to serve You. Lead me and guide me.
His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.