Today's Reading:
Jeremiah 30:1-31:26
Revelation 18:1-24
Proverbs 6:20-29
Click on Text Link to Read Online
Focus Verses: Jeremiah 30:15, 18-19
15 Why
do you cry out over your wound, your pain that has no cure? Because of
your great guilt and many sins I have done these things to you. - - - 18 "This
is what the LORD says: " 'I will restore the fortunes of Jacob's tents
and have compassion on his dwellings; the city will be rebuilt on her
ruins, and the palace will stand in its proper place. 19 From
them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will
add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will bring them
honor, and they will not be disdained.
Insight:
The
consequences of Israel's guilt and sin were painful and inevitable.
Their wound could not be cured apart from the correction and discipline
God was bringing upon them. God's intentions, however, were not merely
punitive, but rather redemptive. God's promise was that they would come
through the correction and suffering to a place of restoration and
renewal. The mourning and sorrow of discipline would eventually be
replaced with songs of thanksgiving and sounds of rejoicing.
Response and Action:
I
must always remember that God's love and good will toward me does not
mean that he will spare me from every consequence of sin. In fact, the
consequences of sin are sometimes a necessary part of being refined and
purified. Distress is often a part of being disciplined. The pain of
correction is often a prerequisite to the blessing of renewal.
I
will trust God to discipline and renew me, just as a loving father
disciplines and blesses his children. When I face consequences for my
sins and mistakes, I will humble myself before God, turn away from sin,
and gain wisdom from lessons learned. I will also look forward with
confidence in God to restore and renew me.
O
God, have mercy upon me, a sinner. Create in me a clean heart and renew
a right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of salvation and uphold
me by your liberating Spirit. Help me to delight in your will, and walk
in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.
Spiritual Formation Verses: Hebrews 12:11
11 No
discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however,
it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been
trained by it.
Resources:
The Smell of Sin: And the Fresh Air of Grace
by Don Evertsdssss
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