(This post is the next in a series of posts containing my first blush reactions to passages I come across in the reading of Scripture. I am currently going straight through the book of Jeremiah and will be sharing with you which verses the Spirit causes to jump out at me and the unrevised, unpolished feelings which they invoke.)
“For I solemnly warned your fathers when I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, warning them persistently, even to this day, saying, Obey my voice.” (11.7)
I can hear God speaking, but do I respond. There is very little, if any, sin that I commit in which the Spirit does not direct me otherwise from the start. And so my sin is not only sin in disobeying God, but is also the rejection of the Spirit’s conviction prior to my sin. I spit in God’s face so much, responding in anger, bitterness, or harsh words when I know he’s calling me to peace. I must follow John Owen in making the pleasures of God more attractive than the pleasures of sin.
” . . . but everyone walked in the stubbornness of his evil heart. Therefore I brought upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not.” (11.8b)
No matter how much enlightenment or liberalness of thought a man claims, the heart which moves in contradiction to God’s commandments is not open but stubborn. The great fallacy of Americans is that our learning has set us free, but instead our suppression of the Truth is as bad if not worse than all those who’ve come before.
“Though they cry to me, I will not listen to them.” (11.11b)
We must be aware that not every affliction is intended to bring genuine repentance, for the unbeliever who cries to God only because they are unhappy is not guaranteed an audience with the King. God desires for broken hearts, not broken bones, to be the motivator for his presence.
“Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?” (12.1b)
It is so discouraging to see people who live with no regard to Christ being successful and stress-free, and it is so easy to let this distract from my call. It is a constant need to rest on Romans 8.28 and Genesis 50.20, knowing that through my submission God’s will can be done through me, and that is the greatest blessing of all.
