In my daily scripture reading the other day, as I work through the Bible in a year with the rest of Madison Square Church, I was reading in the book of Jeremiah. One thing struck me as I read this; we are so like Israel (or at least I know I am). Reading through the Old Testament I've read countless stories of Israel's unfaithfulness. God always provides for Israel, and time and again Israel turns their back on God. He brings them out of Egypt and they make an idol. He brings them to the Promised Land and they disobey, taking the idols of others. The first part of Jeremiah is almost a cry from God saying "you keep turning away from me...why?"
It strikes me that this is exactly what we do all the time. In spiritual moments in Church we promise to give our all to God. We get all fired up and "committed." Then we go home and quickly forget all that passion we only recently felt. God brings us to Him, we turn our backs.
But here comes the good part. In Jeremiah 3, God says "Return, faithless Israel, I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful..." He continues on (speaking through Jeremiah) to call Israel back to Him over and over, if only they would turn away from their unfaithfulness and idolatry.
Thankfully, that is what God has done with us. He has seen our sin, and yet He provides for us, leading us, guiding us, protecting us. God saw our sin, and sent His SON to die on the cross for our sins.
Only a truly loving God would put up with all the sin and faithlessness we live in. Thank God that our God is a loving God.
Amen.
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