Jeremiah is one of my favorite Old Testament prophets. Some scholars label him the "suffering prophet" because he was persecuted by his own people more than all the others.
I get it.
In his own words, Jeremiah's job was to "to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant." (Jer 1:9-10)
He pointed out people's sinfulness.
He warned them of God's impending judgment.
Not a fun job.
But Jeremiah wasn't trying to win a popularity contest, he was trying to save a nation. And seeking to save someone who won't admit they are lost is a daunting task!
Occasionally, Jeremiah gives us a glimpse of what lies on the other side of repentance.
"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:12-13 NIV
Repentance is hard work.
But the reward is worth it.
God has promised to reveal Himself to us when we wholeheartedly seek Him.
I've been trying to find God in the little things, the small moments, the everyday.
Watching a mother trying to pry an empty cup from her toddler's hands so she can fill it up.
Lord, here's my empty cup....fill it up.
Listening to my nine-year-old daughter shouting directions from the backseat of the car.
Lord, I'm sorry for being a backseat driver....teach me to trust.
Folding the pile of laundry that has gotten out of control due to an overly busy week.
Lord, my heart feels like this messy pile of laundry...show me a better way.
God is always there.
Waiting for us to seek Him.
I know that it's not a popular subject, but I've simply got to ask: Is there something in your life that needs to be uprooted, torn down, destroyed, overthrown, built up, or planted?
I've recently had to repent of something that....quite honestly.....I'm ashamed of.
Sometimes sinful attitudes and behaviors sneak up on us.
But now that I've discovered what restoration looks and feels like, I'm so grateful I embraced the hard work of repentance.
"My wayward children," says the LORD, "come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts." Jeremiah 3:22 NLT
Is it really possible for people like you and me to become scholars in God's school? Merriam-Webster defines scholar as “a person who has studied a subject for a long time and knows a lot about it.” Therefore, a scholar in God’s school is simply a person who has studied the Bible for a long time and knows a lot about God. Well, that's not so big and scary, is it? {Read the Full Article}
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