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The Power of God’s Love

Today’s Reading: Romans 8:18-39 (SOAP – 8:38-39)

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39
Even If

Even in our sufferings – whatever they are, Scripture assures us that no troubles or distress, no persecution, no hunger, no dangers, or even violent death can separate us from God’s love that is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord. Even in these, we have complete and guaranteed victory through Him who loved us enough to die in our place.

How then do I live?

Regardless of what life brings, I can live in confidence. I do not have to be afraid because I know that the living God is with me and loves me and I rest secure in His love demonstrated on the cross.

I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;

my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,

or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:8-11
My Response

Father, what an important truth for Your children to remember and to truly believe – so that when troubles come – and they will- we will not be shaken! We can both stand and rest secure, and we can even rejoice because we know Your love and Your power are always with us – Of this I am convinced, in Jesus’ Name! 

Music and video are not mine - but I'm sharing because shortly after completing and scheduling this post this song started playing on my spotify  - what a perfect companion for the devo and and awesome song - I just had to share. I pray it leads you into worship and awe of how our God works.
Want to Go Deeper?

Check out today’s blog on this passage at https://lovegodgreatly.com/lgg-blog/https://lovegodgreatly.com/lgg-blog/

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Trusting God’s Sovereignty

Today’s Reading: Romans 8:18-39

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?

Romans 8:38-39
Building up our confidence

Paul is asking what the believer’s response should be to “these things”, meaning all he has told them about in the previous verses (18-30). In other words, the adoption and redemption of our bodies (23), the hope in which were saved (24), the Spirit’s help in our weakness, His interceding for us in prayer (26), God working all things together for our good (28), being conformed into the image of His Son, so that we might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters (29), and as part of His plan – being called, justified, and glorified (30).

He goes on to ask, “If God is for us who can be against us?”. Perhaps, in light of all He has just written, this is meant to be a rhetorical question. However, either way, I believe it is good and profitable to give an answer to the question as an exercise of recalling the truths and promises that are ours in Christ. Certainly this list alone clarifies that God is for us but lets look at a couple of others that will strengthen our confidence. John 3:16 boasts of God’s love being so great that He gave us His one and only son to die for our sins, and announces that anyone who believes in his son would be saved. There’s also Paul’s words from Romans 5:8 that tell us how God demonstrated his own love for us, not just by sending Christ to die for us, but doing it while we were still sinners. Surely there is absolutely no one and nothing that can stand against us when we are loved so deeply.

HOw Then Do we live

This truth and others like it offer us hope and the confidence we need to walk victoriously through the world as a Christian. We will face suffering and deal with weaknesses, there may be times when we don’t even know how to pray and when it may seem like God is removed from us, but we can always live with the assurance that God, the creator of the universe, the mightiest of the mighty, eternal, living God is “for us” and His Spirit is always with us. He gives freely, not based on our merit but His love; and Psalm 84:11 says He withholds no good thing from those who do what is right. He has a plan for our life and is working everything together for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose and in this we can rest knowing He is a good good father whom we can trust has our backs.

Prayer Prompt

Father, thank You that You are a sovereign God, in perfect control of all things. Thank You for not sparing Your own son but giving Him up for us all so that we might, through faith in Him, be a member of Your family. Thank You for showing us such love and giving us the assurance that we can trust Your sovereign goodness. My heart is full of gratitude and praise!

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Help in Weakness

Today’s Reading: Romans 8:18-39 (SOAP – 8: 26)

 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.

Romans 8:26
The Holy Spirit and the Believer

Have you ever reached the point, either because of tiredness or emotions or even sin – that you just couldn’t or didn’t know how to pray? I have, more times than I can count, which is why I love the truth of this verse. Even more, I love that God has provided a way for us to always connect with Him, even to the point that He will provide the content of our conversation through the intercession of His Spirit. The Spirit plays many roles in the lives of believers and even in the lives of unbelievers, whom He convicts of their sin (Jn 16:8), Two of my other favorites are:

  • Ever feel like you can’t remember God’s Word? Well, the Spirit remembers and according to John 14:26, He has been sent to teach us all things and remind us of everything Jesus said. I don’t know about you but I forget more and more these days – so I take great delight in this role of the Holy Spirit in my life
  • I also love that He is the reason that we are able to bear fruit of the new nature God has given us. Because of the Holy Spirit we are able to show love, have and spread joy, live in and know peace, be patient in trying circumstances, be kind and good, faithful and gentle, and practice self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

If you’d like to know even more about what the Holy Spirit does and what it means to “walk in the Spirit” visit gotquestions.org/Spirit-walk.html and dig deeper.

The One Who Intercedes

Paul has just finished writing about hope and how big of a part it plays in the believer’s life, from salvation to strength to carry us through times of suffering. Here, he continues that same thought line only this time he says, “In the same way as the “hope” works – the Spirit works to help us in our weakness. Whether physical or emotional or spiritual, like knowing how or what to pray for – the Spirit’s job is to intercede on our behalf and according to God’s will (27) – so it’s a win-win!

How then Shall we live?

Just as I/you live in “HOPE” of the promises of God through Christ – we need to live in the power of the Spirit for all of life’s needs. We need to trust that God has provided, through the Holy Spirit, all that we need to live a godly life. (2 Peter1:3-4). Perhaps Paul’s best instruction about the Spirit is found in chapter five of Galatians where we find these helpful and inspiring words: 

 But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!  22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit.   Galatians 5:16-25
Prayer Prompt

Father, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank you that He works in us, according to Your will. Just as You have taught us to put our hope in You, help us to live by Your Spirit and trust His guidance – in prayer, in relationships with others, in living out Your will and call upon our lives in this world. Thank you that He helps us in our weakness and empowers us to live the godly life. We are most blessed!

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Endurance in Hope

Today’s Reading: Romans 8:18-39 (SOAP – 8:24-25)

 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Romans 8:24-25
Adoption, the Redemption of their bodies

Let me start, like I often do, by backing up. This time we only have to go back to the end of the previous verse (23), where Paul writes of believers groaning eagerly as they “eagerly await their adoption, the redemption of their bodies.” I believe Scripture defines Scripture and this verse particularly gives definition to verse 24 and 25. Let’s look at how –

 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Romans 8:23
In This

In most translations verse 24 reads, “In this hope” instead of “in hope”. That little word, “this”, doesn’t change the meaning of the verse but it defines the hope Paul mentions as the same hope he referred to in the previous verses, particularly the description of hope painted with the words of one who “eagerly awaits their adoption, the redemption of their bodies.” After all, isn’t that what we were hoping for when we believed in Jesus for our salvation? – Thus, Paul wrote: “In this hope we were saved”.

Eager Anticipation

Now, let’s turn our attention to one other phrase of Paul’s that caught my attention. “Because we hope for what we have not seen we wait with eager anticipation“, or endurance or patience in some translations. In other words, picture with me children at Christmas and how their excitement builds as presents begin to appear under the Christmas tree. They imagine what’s in the packages and they hope, with growing anticipation, that it’s what’s they’ve asked for … but that same child would not be near as excited for Christmas morning to arrive if the presents were added daily under the tree, unwrapped and visible for all to see. You see, part of the fun for that child is the anticipation of what is to come – and that is how Paul says it should be for us as believers who “hope for what we do not see”. “We eagerly wait for it with endurance”

Am I and How Can I?

So, a set of three questions arose in my mind that perhaps you are asking of yourself? – Am I “eagerly awaiting”? If not – why? Finally, how then can I begin to live in “eager anticipation”? I believe the answers lie in fueling our thoughts with what’s to come. Like the child running to see if any new packages appeared or simply sitting, staring at the lights and colorfully wrapped presents dreaming of what’s to come, we need to look often into God’s Word for His promises that are ours in Christ Jesus. Promises, such as our “adoption”, the “redemption of our bodies”, “the glory that will be revealed to us”, and all of the packages we have not yet unwrapped. Then, with that child-like heart we need to anticipate the very best. After all, we know He’s already given us His only son to die in our place – and to jump ahead and borrow the words Paul wrote in verse 32 of this same chapter, “How will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?”

Prayer Prompt

Father, I do long for that day more and more when I will see you face to face, when I will know the glory that is to come. I confess though – how easy it is to get caught up with the blessing of our lives, our families and friends, ministries and jobs. It can be equally hard not to focus on the pain and suffering in our lives, the lives of those we love, and the world around us. Your Word talks of us enjoying life and seeing many happy days and surely You bless us with many joys that we seek to enjoy at Your good pleasure – but help us to never take our eyes off of the hope and the joy set before us at the “redemption of our bodies” – and may we be faithful to share the truth with others that they too might share in the hope. These things I pray in Jesus’ name – Amen!

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Our Coming Glory

Today’s Reading: Romans 8:18-39 (SOAP, 8:18)

For I (Paul) consider that [the sufferings] of this present time are not worth comparing with [the glory] that is going to be revealed to us.

Romans 8:18
from groans to glory

While in most Bibles verse 18 starts a new “section” of Romans chapter 8, Paul is actually continuing a train of thought that he had just mentioned in verses 16-17, where he wrote: The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. It’s important to understand this if you want to understand the “suffering” he refers to throughout the rest of the chapter.

Clearly the suffering is related, at least in part, to our belief in and relationship with Christ. Whatever the suffering is – every day pain on this sin-cursed earth or persecution as His follower, or both – clearly we will face suffering. However, Paul’s point of hope seems to be that our suffering will be far outweighed by the glories of God revealed to those who belong to God – enabling us to transition from groaning over our situations to rejoicing in the glory to come, our inheritance in Christ and the fulfillment of God’s promises of eternity.

A Change Of Focus

When we suffer, whether it is from petty hurts, great sorrows or persecution, an anguishing illnesses or catastrophic event – as God’s children we can suffer with hope. However, our hope is different than the hope that the world has. The hope of the world says things like, “keep your chin up things will get better” but our’s is the hope of the glory to come. Please don’t misunderstand me, this doesn’t change the realness of the “present suffering” but it definitely can and should change our focus. To borrow from another of Paul’s letters, we must “press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us, Phil 3:14.

Prayer Prompt

Father, how exciting it is to know that one day our present suffering will be over! One day we will stand before You taking in Your glory and majesty. Every pain and sorrow will be gone! Thank you for this hope and may it be our focus over today’s suffering. In Jesus’ name I pray –

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Restore Us, Lord

Today’s Reading: Lamentations 5:1-22 (SOAP: 21)

Bring us back to yourself, O Lord, so that we may return to you;
renew our life as in days before,

Lamentations 5:21
But You, O LORD

Don’t miss the “but You” moment in verse 19. Similar to that of chapter 3, verse 21 – where in the throes of lament Jeremiah says – “But this I call to mind”. Here, he is lamenting the degradation of the city and the plight of the people when it seems the knowledge and the faith of his hope turn his inward thoughts back toward God. This time he says, “But You, O LORD, reign forever. Your throne endures from generation to generation. Remembering these truths seems to prompt both the question and the plea that follow and the words you can almost hear him stammering over in verse 22, “unless You have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure”.

The Confusion and questions

Because Jeremiah knows the goodness of God and His faithfulness to all generations he cries out hoping to understand why God hasn’t come to their aide.

Why do You keep on forgetting us? Why do You forsake us so long?

Lamentations 5:20
The Plea!

In response to his own questions Jeremiah prays a prayer of restoration and renewal and includes a purpose that he knew would align with God’s will for his people and the city. “Bring us back to Yourself, O LORD, so that we may return to You;” – not just to what we knew but first and foremost to You. He went on to pray, “Renew our life”. The plea is not for God to create a new life for them but specifically for restoration to “as in days before” – days when they had a crown and their city stood strong, when they were joyful and dancing. Restored to a time when their elders sat in the city gates and their young men played music. They longed to go back to the day when they weren’t hungry or in danger or living enslaved but to a day when they knew prosperity and success and respect for who they were.

What Can We Learn? – The Application –

What can we learn from these statements of prayer and truth? I think we can take a lesson from Jeremiah’s reasoning and pray prayers that keep God first. I think we should be inspired to watch that our desire is return to Him when we have fallen away, and to pray big prayers without letting them become greedy prayers.

Prayer Prompt

Father, when I lament may my mind and eyes and heart always return to or stay on You. May my chief desire be You and my heart be for ‘renewal’ rather than bigger and better.” Let me not lose heart but when it fades, help me remember You reign forever and Your throne from generation to generation.

Go Deeper

Don’t forget to checkout today’s LGG Blog Post and explore their site to see what God is doing through them.

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Restore Us, Lord

Today’s Reading: Lamentations 5:1-22 (SOAP: 21)

Bring us back to yourself, O Lord, so that we may return to you;
renew our life as in days before,

Lamentations 5:21
But You, O LORD

Don’t miss the “but You” moment in verse 19. Similar to that of chapter 3, verse 21 – where in the throes of lament Jeremiah says – “But this I call to mind”. Here, he is lamenting the degradation of the city and the plight of the people when it seems the knowledge and the faith of his hope turn his inward thoughts back toward God. This time he says, “But You, O LORD, reign forever. Your throne endures from generation to generation. Remembering these truths seems to prompt both the question and the plea that follow and the words you can almost hear him stammering over in verse 22, “unless You have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure”.

The Confusion and questions

Because Jeremiah knows the goodness of God and His faithfulness to all generations he cries out hoping to understand why God hasn’t come to their aide.

Why do You keep on forgetting us? Why do You forsake us so long?

Lamentations 5:20
The Plea!

In response to his own questions Jeremiah prays a prayer of restoration and renewal and includes a purpose that he knew would align with God’s will for his people and the city. “Bring us back to Yourself, O LORD, so that we may return to You;” – not just to what we knew but first and foremost to You. He went on to pray, “Renew our life”. The plea is not for God to create a new life for them but specifically for restoration to “as in days before” – days when they had a crown and their city stood strong, when they were joyful and dancing. Restored to a time when their elders sat in the city gates and their young men played music. They longed to go back to the day when they weren’t hungry or in danger or living enslaved but to a day when they knew prosperity and success and respect for who they were.

What Can We Learn? – The Application –

What can we learn from these statements of prayer and truth? I think we can take a lesson from Jeremiah’s reasoning and pray prayers that keep God first. I think we should be inspired to watch that our desire is return to Him when we have fallen away, and to pray big prayers without letting them become greedy prayers.

Prayer Prompt

Father, when I lament may my mind and eyes and heart always return to or stay on You. May my chief desire be You and my heart be for ‘renewal’ rather than bigger and better.” Let me not lose heart but when it fades, help me remember You reign forever and Your throne from generation to generation.

Go Deeper

Don’t forget to checkout today’s LGG Blog Post and explore their site to see what God is doing through them.

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The Depths of Suffering

Today’s Reading: Lamentations 4 (SOAP, 4:17)

Our eyes continually failed us
as we looked in vain for help.
From our watchtowers we watched
for a nation that could not rescue us.

Lamentations 4:17 NET (KJV)
Suffering

This fourth lament moves through a depiction of Jerusalem’s devastating suffering. From the loss of all they had and were, to starvation of women and children, punishment that exceeded that of Sodom, appearance that went from white as snow to darker than soot, and the thought that those who died by the sword were better off than those wasting away from hunger. With these pictures in mind is it any wonder that Jerusalem continually watched for an ally, most likely Egypt, to rescue them from their suffering? Yet, as Jeremiah had predicted they watched in vain for a nation that could not protect them.

What Happened?

What happened to this once thriving and powerful city and people? Scripture answers this for us in Lamentations 1:5, “The LORD afflicted her because of her many acts of rebellion.” God’s will is for us to not sin but to love Him and obey His commandments, John 14:15. Our acts of rebellion against the LORD our God will always have disciplinary consequences because He is a good Father who despises sin, (John 3:16), and loves His children, (Hebrews 12:5–6; cf. Proverbs 3:11–12);  (Hebrews 12:8) and (Hebrews 12:10).

How Do We Apply This Verse?

Of course we cannot directly apply this passage of Scripture for we do not live in exile waiting to be rescued. However, we certainly have problems that cause us, from time to time, to watch and wait and hope that someone will come to our rescue. We would be wise during these times to set our eyes continually on the Lord, the only One who can truly help us. Watching for Him to rescue us will never be in vain. The One who made us and calls us His own will never turn His back on us. He is our protector and does not sleep or become too busy to notice we have need of His help. In Psalm 118:13-14 The Psalmist said that he was pushed back and about to fall but the Lord helped him, and he went on to say that He was his strength and salvation.

I lift my eyes toward the mountains.

Where will my help come from?

2My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

3He will not allow your foot to slip;

your Protector will not slumber.

4Indeed, the Protector of Israel

does not slumber or sleep.

5The Lord protects you;

the Lord is a shelter right by your side.

6The sun will not strike you by day

or the moon by night.

7The Lord will protect you from all harm;

he will protect your life.

8The Lord will protect your coming and going

both now and forever.

Psalm 121:1-8
Prayer Prompt

God, You are a good good father. This doesn’t mean you will overlook our sinful behavior but that You love us enough to deal with it according to Your steadfast love. Throughout Your Word we are told to keep our eyes on You. Help us to do this continually, not only when we are in trouble but when we are tempted to sin, for we know that it will not be in vain. For Your Word promises that when we are tempted You will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear but you will rescue us by showing us a way of escape so that we can remain faithfully obedient to You.

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Great Is His Faithfulness

Today’s Reading: Lamentations chapter 3 (SOAP, 3:21-24)
KJV Translation

21But this I call to mind;
therefore I have hope;

22 The Lord’s loyal kindness never ceases;
his compassions never end.
23 They are fresh every morning;
your faithfulness is abundant!
24 “My portion is the Lord,” I have said to myself,
so I will put my hope in him.

Lamentations 3:22-24 (NET)
Jeremiah Lament Turns Personal

Lamentations 3 appears a more personal lament of Jeremiah’s. In the previous laments he has focused on the city, the destruction, the responsibility, God’s wrath, and a few personalized comments. However, chapter 3 there are a lot of “I” and “my” statements like:

  • “I am the man who has experienced affliction”
  • “He drove me into captivity”
  • “He made my moral skin waste away”
  • “He has shut out my prayer”
  • “To me he is like a bear lying in ambush”
  • “I have become the laughingstock of all people”
  • “He ground my teeth in grave”
  • “I have lost all hope of deliverance from the LORD”
  • “I am depressed”

Then the lament changes from despair to hope (21-24) and it wasn’t because his situation had changed – but because Jeremiah had purposefully made himself remember truths about God that countered the fears of the circumstances.

  • God is faithful
  • His kindness never stops
  • His compassions won’t fail
  • His faithfulness is great
  • He remembers that God (not the circumstances or people around him) is the source of his happiness and blessing

Please notice that Jeremiah’s and Jerusalem’s situation had not changed what changed were his thoughts and the attitude of his heart. In the middle of the lament he determines to list out the goodness of the LORD. He purposes to keep his hope in the LORD and replaces what he had declared as lost in verse 18 with an attitude that seems to mirror the Psalmist’s in Ps 73:26.

My flesh and my heart may grow weak,
but God always protects my heart and gives me stability.

Psalm 73:26 NET KJV
How Do We Apply This?

Applying this requires being purposeful and determined like Jeremiah, who after lamenting he was depressed said, “yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope.” At perhaps the lowest point of his lament, hopeless and depressed the thought of God’s goodness, the knowledge of His great love, the remembrance of His daily, unending mercies, and His great faithfulness flowed through Jeremiah’s mind like a song and restored his hope. I wonder if he ever imagined that his lament and recorded resurgence of hope written for all of time and used by God to change people’s life in the 21st century? I know they certainly changed mine more than 32 years ago and they continue to make a difference today.

  • When depression and hopelessness set in I learned to think about the truths that Jeremiah listed in verse 22-24. Consider writing them down or reading them often so that they become part of your thinking.
  • Look for and remember ways that you have seen God like this in your life
  • Say to myself/yourself, I will put my hope in the LORD because He is my “portion”, my true and lasting source of happiness and blessing.
Prayer Prompt

Father the circumstances of life and the choices we’ve made are often a bitter poison. They will easily rob us of hope and joy unless we purposefully call to mind Your kindness, compassion, mercies, faithfulness, and sufficiency. Help us, even in our laments, to be determined to know and be quick to call these truths to mind whether in times of trouble or everyday living. – and in this may others see and hear of You – for Your glory – In Jesus’ Name – Amen!

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The Lord’s Anger

Today’s Reading: Lamentations chapter 1:1-22 (SOAP/FOCUS: 12)

“Does it mean nothing to you, all you who pass by?
    Look around and see if there is any suffering like mine,
which the Lord brought on me
    when he erupted in fierce anger.

Lamentations 1:12 NLT
Background

It is impossible to understand this one verse without first taking in all that came before it.

First of all Lamentations is a book of 5 laments or poems. In this first poem, Jeremiah, the assumed author, is lamenting the fall of Jerusalem and the burning of the Temple by the Babylonian Army. To grasp the true devastation of this we must remember that Jerusalem wasn’t just another city it was known as the city of God and the Temple there as His dwelling place. Each verse in chapter 1 is divided by the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, a structure known to denote completeness.

On behalf of the city Jeremiah bemoans loss after loss after loss, including her standing among the nations, being abandoned by her allies, and becoming an easy prey. He laments the loss and observance of the prescribed and cherished festivals and names the LORD as the one who afflicted Jerusalem, attributing the blame to Jerusalem because of her rebellious acts. He lamented not only the abandonment of allies but that of her own leaders . Perhaps the most devastating thing to deal with was hearing Jerusalem’s enemies gloating over her – and know that she was no longer the prided Temple of God.

Is There Anyone Who Understands?

When we come to the 12th verse, Jeremiah’s heart break and desperation are really evident as he pauses, hoping to find someone – anyone – who seems to understand what he is experiencing and how it hurts. However, it has become evident by now that there is no one.

How Do We Apply It?

To be sure, there is something poetically beautiful and teachable about Jeremiah’s emotional lament for Jerusalem. He calls out from the depths of his heart, he calls out with his eyes not only on what they had lost but aware of why and how. He calls out with hope that God will see them and remember them, and yes – he calls out for God to visit His wrath on the nations who had maliciously raged against Jerusalem and their God. I believe we should lament over our sins, the sins of our country, and over the sins of the world. Clearly in light of the verses that lead up to verse 12 we should also be consciously aware of our actions and any sins that tempt us – staying alert to God’s will and the consequences that could come should we choose to rebel. We should also be careful not to let this make us fearful of God’s wrath but look at the reason that His wrath was incited and steer clear of those repetitive and rebellious actions that by their own admission deserved God’s wrath.

As for the actual application from verse 12, what struck me was that Jeremiah was so consumed with the loss and the subsequent lament that he was crying out to people on the street for pity. Yet perhaps as some suggest not only for pity but also that they would see what God will do even to those closest to Him when His anger is so stirred by sin. Matthew Henry, in his “Concise Commentary” said this about verse 12: “Sorrow for sin must be great sorrow, and must affect the soul. Here we see the evil of sin, and may take warning to flee from the wrath to come. Whatever may be learned from the sufferings of Jerusalem, far more may be learned from the sufferings of Christ.” Should we suffer due to sin and rebellion, as Jerusalem, may we remember well the price Christ paid on the cross for us and let it be our warning of encouragement to remain faithful.

Prayer Prompt

Father, help us first of all to learn to consider the consequences of our actions, especially of our sin. Thank you for Jesus, the Redeemer of our sins – but O Father, let us not forget the hatred you have for sin so that we do not become rebellious and find ourselves in the place of Jerusalem and her people, weighed down by the consequences. Help us to love you more than self and to lament and turn from those things that break Your heart. Help us to keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, rather than the people and the “nations” around us.

More ….

Don’t miss the Love God Greatly blogs M, W, F for some wonderful insights into the text of this study. On Tuesday’s you will find testimonials from missionaries and others God is using to translate His Word and these studies into every language, so that women every where have the opportunity to read and grow from the teaching of God’s Word.

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