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?