My heart’s greatest desire is to “love the LORD my God with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my mind” and to honor him by also “loving my neighbor as myself.”
In Jeremiah 7:23 God says, “…Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!”
Over and over again throughout Jeremiah, Lamentations, and Ezekiel God tells the Israelites how much he loves them and, throughout the many pronouncements of judgment, declares that if they will only turn from their idols he will deliver them from the onslaught that is coming their direction. Unfortunately they never do for (Jeremiah 7:28) “…This is the nation whose people refuse to be taught. Truth has vanished from among them; it is no longer heard on their lips.”
What was Israel’s greatest sin? ---Pride.
Jeremiah 13:15-16 “Listen and pay attention! Do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken. Give glory to the LORD your God before it is too late. Acknowledge him before he brings darkness upon you, causing you to stumble and fall on the darkening mountains. For then, when you look for the light, you will find only terrible darkness and gloom.”
Maybe it’s just me but it always seems as though pride pops up its ugly head often enough within our own lives and churches. Time and time again I can remember pastors confessing their pride to the congregation and trusted friends pointing out and admitting the same.
How can we be rid of pride? ----Get your strength from God.
There’s an amazing picture of this in 1 Samuel 30:3-4, 6, “When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep… David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him… But David found strength in the LORD his God.”
Basically, thanks to God’s favor, David goes on a killing spree and walks away with all of his family and possessions PLUS plunder from the Amalekites. Strength from God comes out in physical strength/stamina like David as well as protection and sustenance.
Jeremiah: (16:19) “LORD, you are my strength and fortress, refuge in the day of trouble!” (17:7-8) “But blessed are those that 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 about long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”
Because we know that our God (Jeremiah 20:12a) “[The] LORD of Heaven’s Armies, you test those who are righteous, and you examine the deepest thoughts and secrets…”
ENCOURAGEMENT:
Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.”
Jeremiah 51:15-16 “The LORD made the earth by his power, and preserves it with his wisdom. With his own understanding he stretched out the heavens. When he speaks in the thunder, the heavens are filled with water. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses.”
Lamentations (18:18) “I cry out, “My splendor is gone! Everything I had hoped for from the LORD is lost!” (18:21-27) “Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”
The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. It is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD. It is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline” (18:31-33) “For no one is abandoned by the LORD forever. Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love.
For he does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow.”
Hopefully you found these verses as interesting and encouraging as I did.
Praying for you - - - -Kate :)
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