Forgotten Ways

Jeremiah is considered the weeping prophet by most, and reading the first few chapters of the text it is no surprise as to why. You feel the heat from the Lord reading the words of judgement that He is pronouncing over His Beloved. Having grown up 'Pentecostal', I read it and I hear Jeremiah speaking it aloud as a prophetic utterance, and it makes your heart shiver. It also can be convicting....

Having grown up in the church it often feels like you've been 'saved' since conception. Each of us have that moment or few moments where you knew God called you out, but faith has always been a part of your psyche. Because of this I have read the Bible 2-3 times in its entirety  These passages should be familiar or at least trigger some previous memory - and yet it doesn't. I have to cultivate the greatest love note I have ever received. I am no so different than Israel when the Lord said,

"Consider then and realize

how evil and biter it is for you

when you forsake the Lord your God

and have no awe of me," 

declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty

My pastor shared with us yesterday the first time he ever had God speak to him. When he was praying for how thankful he was to not be a heathen sentenced to hell, God spoke "but for My grace, you would be". As believers it is easy to fall into a stagnate place - whether it be in our physical or spiritual life. Neither honor God, and truly both are statements of disobeidence. Jeremiah 2:14 points to Israel asking if she is a slave, and if not why does she act like it. So often we act bound to sin, bound to the past, forgetting we are co-heirs with Christ; redeemed, being sanctified and ever moving towards our beloved Father. 

Jeremiah 3:4-5 was a somber reminder of the foolishness of the flittering heart.

"Have you not just called to me:

'My Fahter, my friend from my youth,

will you always be angry?

Will your wrath continue forever?'

This is how you talk,

but you do all the evil you can."

I used to think evil was the 'big' sins, and yet as Jesus said a mere thought is adultery and murder, I find myself a murderer and an adultress. Yet when I find myself overcome I cry out to be saved, and He is faithful to save me. Yet as soon as I have legs to stand again I run back to my 'worthless idols'. How grateful I am that Jesus came and covered over my sin, redeeming me to Him. But with His Blood do I truly want to defile His sacrficie? Or spit on His cross? 

I say all this, to really say: I'm sorry. I act within my own strength, pursuing my own idols, and carrying them around as trophies of value. Thank you for giving us Your Son as our lamb, so I can still approach the throne of heaven in the midst of my indiscretion. Please help me to give in to way 'feels good' or what is easy, help me not to say 'it's no use, I love foreign gods, and I must go after them', give me strength to trust You and You alone are enough.

"Create in me a clean heart, a clean heart
For I have turned my face from You
Teach us of Your ways oh God, oh God
For we have turned away from You
Lord have mercy

We will run to you, we will run to you
Turning from our sin we return to You
Father heal your world, make all things new
Make all things new

Your love and mercy build and shape us
Break us and recreate us now
Lord have mercy"
- Gungor "We Will Run To You"