THE STORY OF JESUS: Jeremiah 11-13
“Obey me… and you will be my people, and I will be your God.” (Jeremiah 11:4)
In some ways, God sounds like a bully: obey me or else!
But context matters, and the context here is a corrupt, messed up world.
Slavery, violence, injustice, perversion, murder… these were normal and common.
When God rescued Israel from slavery, He offered them a better life, a new hope.
“A land flowing with milk and honey (11:5)” was not a bribe to get them to obey.
It is what God created humans for, what God has always wanted for us.
God is not opposed to happiness or freedom; He knows the only way to have them!
But as long as we stubbornly refuse God’s way, we miss out on God’s dream.
The context of these words is God’s exasperation with their stubborn rebellion.
God sends Jesus to urge us to obey everything He commands us (Matthew 28:19).
Through the cross, He rescues and enables us to love God and others.
As we trust and follow Him, He restores us to harmony with God and each other.
Love for God and others is not just a necessary duty to appease a stern God.
It is the essence of blessing and happiness, the only way to be free!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, help me not to ignore or resist Your commands to love. Help me to see that they are the key to the hapiness and blessing I am looking for!
Do this and live.
God made a covenant with His people.
Obey and live.
Listen and do this and we will have life and life eternal.
Disobey the Lord, follow my own ways will bring disaster.
A covenant breaker?
Listen to the Lord, His voice, and have life.
He tells us which way to travel and will continue to lead and guide
by His Spirit.
I need to walk in His SonLight each day.
Do this and live.
Live and do this – that is what the Master said.
When we walk with the Lord in the light of his Word
What a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will, he abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.