To Walk In His Footprints

[Jeremiah 10]

It is not in man to direct our steps. 

We need Someone wiser to lead us and gently correct us when we go the wrong way. 

And that Someone wiser is God. 

Don't be afraid to walk in His footprints. 

Waiting

[Jeremiah 8]

There He is, sitting on the porch again. Eyes searching to and fro, ears strained to catch the faintest call. He's waiting. Eagerly. Attentively. Hopefully. 

They've rejected Him and His rules.
The One Who only ever loved them and sought their best.

But He's waiting.
He hasn't changed a bit. 

But they have. And for the worse. They aren't even ashamed of their sin. They can't see it. They claim to be wise, but what wisdom is in this course?

None. Absolutely none. 

He will have to destroy them. But He will save the wise, the obedient ones, and give them the land. 

How Can I Give You Up?

[Jeremiah 7]

Even now He's pleading for them to return to Him. Warning them of the sure result of their course. Calling them back...

"How can I give thee up...?"

He's tried again and again, but they would not hearken. Now He will cast them off. And not even Jeremiah's prayers or interceding for them can change it. "Seest thou not how they sacrifice unto other gods, and worship them that they may provoke me to anger? Do they provoke me to anger? ... Do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces?"*

They've disobeyed, ignored, and forsaken God for many years. Trading Him instead for illusions of gods and their own evil pleasure. And now, they have a screwed picture of God. They're confused. 

They don't know God, they don't know themselves, and they don't know their other gods. 

Confusion is the sure result of trading the true and living God for life-less gods and selfish pleasure. 

Let's learn from them.

*See Jeremiah 7:17-19.

For the Sake of One

[Jeremiah 5]

Even after all this sin and adultery, all their broken promises all the times they broke His trust, even after they refuse to return... Yes, even after all that, God turns to Jeremiah and says, "Run to and for," search, "and see if you can find one man--one man that excuteth judgement and seeks the Truth, and I will pardon it."

Pretty simple. Shouldn't be too hard, right? Wrong. But why is is so hard to find one man like this when there should be thousands?

Because they refused the correction of The Lord.

But what strikes me even deeper than the challenge to be "this man or woman" is the heart of God. 

Even after all the times they'd hurt Him, He still can't bear the thought of giving them up. And so He will spare them all for the sake of just one. 

Never underestimate the power of one life wholly committed to following God. 

Not a Full End

[Jeremiah 4]

They've lived in sin and shame so thick it covered them. Their confusion is great too. They've hardened their hearts. And in this state He calls to them "If thou wilt return, return unto Me. Put away your sins. Acknowledge the Lord's goodness. Break up your hard, fallow heart. And remove the weeds, that His plants may grow there. Circumcise your hearts. Cut away the layers, right down to the very heart. Because I love you and don't want to have to destroy you with the sin." 

God is not angry at me, but at my enemies. They must be destroyed. But I still have a chance. If I will but raise the standard, set my face toward Zion, and march, I will be saved. 

But too often I believe the twisted world saying that my enemies are my friends and He is my enemy. And so, even though He must destroy, He will not make a full end. He will destroy my enemies, open my eyes, and come rescue me. 

What love...