August 26, 2009 Heart of God
Today’s Bible Reading: Jeremiah 50, 51; 3 John 1
Scripture Focus:
Jeremiah 51:5 For Israel is not forsaken, nor Judah,
By his God, the LORD of hosts,
Though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.”
Observation:
In the previous chapters we read about how God was using Babylon to punish his people for their sin, after years of pleading with them to repent. Even though God punished Israel and Judah, it was not with the purpose to abandon them, but to redeem them.
Application:
This verse gives hope to the vilest offender of God’s justice, and it gives hope to me, when I struggle to live a truly righteous life before God. If God must punish, it is for the purpose of redemption.
As Hebrews 12:8 & 10 says, “If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. . . God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.
Prayer:
Father, may I not chafe against your discipline, but learn from it.
Scripture Focus:
By his God, the LORD of hosts,
Though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.”
