PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Jeremiah 11-12
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Obey me… and you will be my people, and I will be your God.” (Jeremiah 11:4)
The context of these chapters is God’s exasperation with their stubbornness.
When Israel was rescued from slavery, God offered them a better life, a new hope.
“A land flowing with milk and honey (11:5)” wasn’t a bribe to get them to obey.
It is what God created humans for, what God has always wanted for us.
In some ways, God sounds like a bully: obey me or else!
But context matters, and the context here is a cruel, messed up world.
Slavery, violence, injustice, perversion, murder… these were normal and common.
God is not opposed to happiness or freedom, but knows the only way to have them!
As long as we stubbornly refuse God’s way, we miss out on God’s dream.
Like Jeremiah, Jesus comes to call us to obey God’s commands (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!
PRAYER
Lord, help me not to ignore or resist Your commands to love. Help me to see that they are the key to the happiness and blessing I am looking for!
Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?…Moreover, the people are saying, “He will not see what happens to us.” But God does see – He does see the injustice. He is patient but there will be a time of judgement. Lord help me to praise you for your patience and compassion even in the face of the injustice’s that happen today – as I witness on TV the innocent lives lost in war – how the aggressor wantonly destroys the livelihoods of innocent people – for what? Evil is around me and it tempts me to despair. Lord, help me to not lose hope but to be faithful – to help wherever and to what ever you call me – even in the small things – that I may have the attitude of Jesus – to convey the hope that I have in you!
‘This is what the Lord says.’ But do the people hear His voice? They have gone their own way, not listening to His voice nor relying upon His promises. They go their own way leading to destruction. Happiness is only found in His Way listening to His voice and following His commands. And those commands can be summarized into one command – love. Love God. Love mankind. There is no other way to be happy.
1 Have thine own way, Lord!
Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter,
I am the clay.
Mold me and make me
after thy will,
while I am waiting,
yielded and still.
2 Have thine own way, Lord!
Have thine own way!
Search me and try me,
Savior today!
Wash me just now, Lord,
wash me just now,
as in thy presence
humbly I bow.
3 Have thine own way, Lord!
Have thine own way!
Wounded and weary,
help me I pray!
Power, all power,
surely is thine!
Touch me and heal me,
Savior divine!
4 Have thine own way, Lord!
Have thine own way!
Hold o’er my being
absolute sway.
Fill with thy Spirit
till all shall see
Christ only, always,
living in me!