Day 219 – Jeremiah 1-3

Talking Points

• Jeremiah begins his service as a prophet and is affirmed by God is His calling, as God tells him He had set him aside even before his birth. Jeremiah, “the reluctant prophet,” presents God with several reasons he should not serve: his age, his lack of experience, his inability to speak. The LORD says He will empower and protect, telling Jeremiah, “I have put My words in your mouth” (Jeremiah 1:9). In this exchange, see that God called and promised to lead, yet Jeremiah still had to submit in obedience. God blesses those who walk in His will.
• “Thus says the LORD” — the message of a true prophet. In this account, we see the grace of God in sending His Word, the reluctance of man to receive His Word, and the consequence for operating in neglect of His Word. Jeremiah, “the weeping prophet,” faced intensely cruel opposition to the prophecies of God’s judgment against Judah – so much so that he was tempted to resign his position as a prophet. Yet, he continued faithfully. Proclaiming God’s Word has never been popular, and some things never change. May we encourage those who endeavor to keep at it.
• We are stained by our sins. In our human power, we try and clean it up. We work harder, take on good deeds, and make empty promises. We try and appear as something we are not. Yet, God still sees our sin. “‘Although you wash yourself with lye And use much soap, The stain of your iniquity is before Me,’ declares the Lord GOD” (2:22). Praise Jesus, who washes us whiter than snow!
• God tells Judah that Israel’s unfaithfulness and punishments should have served as a warning to Judah, but they turned away from the LORD, too.
• Despite all of their sin, God still calls them to repent, to return – “‘For I am gracious’ declares the LORD; I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your iniquity…” (3:12-13).

“Oh, for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.

Come home, come home
Ye who are weary, come home…”

Thoughts

“Flee from immorality!”
“Be holy as He is holy.”
“Abstain from every form of evil.”

Wow — sounds like our faith comes with a legalistic set of rules, maybe even a standard we can’t keep.

In reality, though, God, in His grace, leads us away from sin and to something so much better! He loves us and desires for us to have peace, happiness, and abounding joy. He knows sin will always rob us of those things.

Something I have learned is that sin always bears a consequence. And, something I’ve learned to value and even be glad in is that those consequences serve to push us back to God. At times when I have shut out the voice of God, when I have decided not to obey His commands, when I am simply not listening to Him, my own sins reprove me. The consequences of my sins correct me. And, if I won’t listen to Him, maybe I’ll listen to them. “This is not the way. This hurts too much.”

“Your own wickedness will correct you, And your apostasies will reprove you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter For you to forsake the LORD your God” (2:19). Thank the LORD that His plan always draws us home!