Scripture:
Jeremiah 5:24 “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.’”
Observation:
The selected reading passage for today, December 16, 2009, is Jeremiah 4-6. This section of the book of Jeremiah is one of impending gloom and doom upon both houses of Jacob – Israel and Judah. They have strayed from the Mosaic Law and prostrated themselves before lifeless idols and prostituted themselves because “they have sworn by gods that are not gods at all” (Jer. 5:7)! God warns them through the prophet that a mighty nation from the north (Jer. 6:22) speaking a language they don’t know (Jer. 5:15) is coming to annihilate the vast majority of the nation (Jer. 5:18). In the midst of all his fury, the LORD shows Jeremiah how hard the hearts of his people are.
Application:
The lesson I am learning today, or more appropriately stated as relearning, is to have an attitude of gratitude. It is so easy to become complacent about the goodness of God. His goodness encompasses more than just blessings and all things good but also his mercy, justice, grace, chastisement, compassion, teachings, and love.
There was a great reason why Israel understood the concept of “The LORD God, the LORD is one” – the Schema. In this statement is the whole concept that God is All in all. He is all justice, all mercy, all peace, all compassion, all grace, all good, all love and ALL of any attribute you know of him. Because he is perfect, he is lacking in nothing. Thus, he is all in all or complete in everything about him.
Jeremiah quotes God as saying, “he gives us rain…[and] harvest when the time is right.” Just as the rest of God is perfect and not lacking, it makes sense that his timing is perfect. He controls the universe and rules the earth. Time was created for mankind not our timeless, eternal God.
The idea of a perfect, sovereign Creator, who is complete in all things, should do at least two things for the believer: (1) erase any doubt as to the ability of God to do what he promises and (2) create a sense of awe in each of us because of the greatness and omnipotence of our God. He is able to do whatever he pleases, when he pleases, where he pleases, how he pleases, and in whom he pleases.
A God, who causes the rains to fall at their appointed times and limits the bounds of the seas (Jer. 5:22), is an awesome being. The wonders of his creation, including us, should give us cause “to live in awe of the Lord our God.”
The great “I AM that I AM” is the only One, who can save sinners from their fate with eternal death. He is the only One, who loved us when we were unlovable. He is the only One, who cares enough to die for us in order to redeem us unto himself. He is the only One, who is God because there are none like him. He is the only One, who has all power and authority. Hear O chosen of God, the LORD our God, the Lord is One!
The very fact that he gave his One and only Son to humanity as a sacrifice for our sins should be more than enough to cause every believer “to live in awe of the Lord our God.” As stated earlier, it is so easy to be complacent regarding God and his good graces. He blesses us, heals us, delivers us, provides for us, rewards us, redeems us, fills us, and most importantly loves us. When the going is good, people tend to take for granted the things God puts in their lives. However, allow one calamity to hit them, say loss of a job or loved one, and they are ready to either curse God and blame him for their troubles or cry out to him in despair for relief from the tough times.
Never ever get so comfortable with your God that you forget from where your help comes from. It is healthy to have a respectful fear of the Lord. Man can take your things and even your mortal life, but only God has the authority and power to throw your life into the lake of fire, eternally. Yes, we are to be able to approach God as a doting Father and seek his guidance and help, but we must maintain an attitude of gratitude that shows our hearts are truly given to him.
We must demonstrate our love for God in our worship to him – the way we live our lives is our real worship to God. Do we really love him with all of our hearts, souls, minds and strength, as well as our neighbors as ourselves? Do we keep his commandments out of love for him through grace and faith or burden ourselves under the curse of legalism, which can never bring about the righteousness of God in man?
Prayer:
Father, I am not perfect by any stretch of the imagination or in reality. I am flawed and marred because I am in this corruptible, mortal tent. By your grace through faith, I have been saved and redeemed from the curse of sin. I am a child of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. By your doing, you have made me a joint-heir with Jesus. By your grace, I am able to do the work you have given to me. By your power through your Holy Spirit, I can do all through Christ, who strengthens me. The whole story is about you. Everything I do should be and must be about you. You are the center focus of my life. I have erred like everyone else for none are righteous, not one. Father, help me to always have a healthy respect and fear of you, most gracious One. Teach me the true sense of awe you spoke of through Jeremiah. I want to be humble before you and always grateful for the things you have given me – above all else – Love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Posted by jd 
