Full End.
"Line up the Shield and Buckler,Draw Near for Battle."
Every single day.
God will make a full end of this world and its people.
God will not make a full end of His Followers. Jer 46:28
John Eldridge speaks of the ascending metaphors as we journey in our relationship with God.
Clay.
Sheep.
Servants.
Children,
Friends.
Lovers.
Jeremiah knew his God as the lover of his soul.
He faced such ridicule and rejection, suffering and separation.
Yet, he pushed through the world to live apart, set apart.
He was not only in God's House, he was His Friend, His Lover.
He lived with a heart of obedience and mission.
May we follow the footsteps of those who have gone before us and have paid a price to be His.
"O Jacob My servant, do not fear,” declares the Lord,
ReplyDelete“For I am with you.
For I will make a full end of all the nations
Where I have driven you,
Yet I will not make a full end of you;
But I will correct you properly
And by no means leave you unpunished.” Jer. 46:28
More prophesy from the Lord through Jeremiah this morning.
More judgment, more mercy.
More faithfulness fulfilled in preserving the remnant of Jacob.
Our good Father tells Israel not to fear, but they can also know that their wayward hearts will not go unpunished. He will punish them properly because He loves them.
And yes, God does punish today, too, because He loves us. There is a penalty to un confessed sin. And we only have to look at the mess we've made in this world to know that sin abounds and the consequences of it are often what we are left with.
Judgment is upon us today just like in Jeremiah's day with Nebuchadnezzar, but after Jesus, it's a two-fold message:
God judges sin.
And for those of us found in Christ, God spares us from the full end of our destruction, thanks be to His Saving Son.
Blessed Sunday, Pearls! We have something to celebrate today. Worship the Only One Who is worthy of all our praise, all our gratitude, all of our heart.
Jeremiah is a confusing hero of the faith to me. He valiantly stands for Truth through persecution and rejection. Yet, he is moved to curse the day he was born, severely depressed and burdened. He knew God's covenant with His people stood and he continually preached, "Repent!" From the time he saw the budding almond branches, he "watched" over God's Word. He had a bent for the dramatic, too, performing many symbolic acts, like wearing a yoke around his neck to convince his people to submit to King Nebachadnezzar, breaking pottery and using cauldrens of fire running south to symbolize the attack from the north.
ReplyDeleteWas he a failure because no one heeded his words? Was he a failure because he suffered? Was he a failure because he didn't enjoy a place of position because of his wisdom? By no means.
God used him mightily. He stands to this day as a rousing example of courageous proclamation, of faith, of standing on the covenantal promises of God to his people, especially during persecution and suffering.