God's Anger and Grace

Have you ever considered how fierce God's Anger can be?

In Jeremiah chapter 4 we get at least a glimpse of what God's anger can be like. The picture that is given to us in this chapter is an anger that is like a consuming fire. This consuming fire is not consuming Him (like our anger typically does) but it will consume the nation of Judah. There is no stopping this kind of judgment except for total repentance. God was using Jeremiah to warn His people that their judgment was coming. God makes it clear that their destruction was of their own doing. It was their unrighteousness and idolatry that has brought God's wrath upon them. This prophecy begs the question of 'Does God's anger still burn against His people when they turn from Him?'

The simple answer to this question is yes. God does not change. It is foolish and arrogant of us to think that nothing bad will happen to us if we turn from God. I know I have seen this in my own life. In fact, early on in my life with God had to remove certain people from my life so that I could I begin to focus my attention on Him and not some girl. This was a difficult process but it is one that I had to go through if I was truly going to be a changed man. This does not mean that every time we disobey that God will look to strike us down. God's grace and mercy allows us the time to repent and begin anew our walk with Him.

I hope that the message of Jeremiah will serve as a warning to us today. We must wash our hearts of the evil that so easily entangles us.

Set Free For a Purpose

Set Free For a Purpose

Did you know that when God sets us free He does so for a purpose. We see this theme through out Scripture but today I wanted to write to you about Jeremiah 2. In this chapter God speaks to Jeremiah about the sins of Judah. In particular, He gives him the words he is to speak to those who will hear in Jerusalem. What we find in these words are three basic ideas.

First, that God has repeatedly provided for His people. He is the one who lead them through the wilderness (v.6), who brought them up out of Egypt (v.6), and the one who gave them a fruitful land(v.7). He has been there for them through all of the good times and bad. He has loved on them in spite of their sins. He has given them a multitude of opportunities to turn from their evil ways and return to Him. Despite these efforts they have continued to turn away from the love of their youth.

Second, God is their judge and that His judgment will be swift and absolute. However, He is not the cause of their misery and punishment, they are. It is because they have forsaken God that their trouble has come (v.17). They abandoned God in all things except for the their most desperate times. They would worship rocks and trees and until things got rough and then they would turn to Yahweh (v.27-28). This kind of relationship with God was born out of their arrogance. They saw themselves as innocent and the chosen people. They knew they were free and they took that freedom to mean that they could do whatever they wanted to (v.31, 35)

Third, the freedom God gives is given for a reason and a purpose. God desires us to use the liberty He gives to serve Him and others. God sums up His people's rejection of Him in verse 20 where we see the Jews refusing to serve. He removed their yokes and bonds so they would serve Him.

The same is true for us today. When we accept His gift of salvation, He sets us free. He takes our burden on Himself. In return, we are called to serve Him and others. Are you following thru on what He expects of you? Are you serving Him? Are you going after His will for your life? If not, why not?

God's Calling-Jeremiah 1:1-10

Jeremiah is one of my favorite historical figures because we know he struggled with many of the same issues that I have dealt with in my own life. He like Moses before questioned God's decision to chose him. In Jeremiah's case he basically says to God that I am to young. God's response is to basically say that no you are not too young and you will do My will and go where I tell you to go. He goes on to tell Jeremiah that He is to have no fear when he goes out to speak to the nations.

Those word should still ring true to us today. God has not given us a spirit of fear but a spirit of power and courage. God has called each of us to go out and speak the truth to the nations. God has touched our lips and He will provide all that we need as we follow after Him with the passion and strength He gives us.