How Can You Say?
24018 Jeremiah 2:23,24 The Context: Through Jeremiah God gives a lengthy inditement of Israel’s sin. “… my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit…
for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me … and have hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. … though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me.” Israel’s unrepentant heart is revealed by God’s accusatory question:
God Asks us: “How can you say, ‘I am not unclean, I have not gone after the Baals’? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done— a restless young camel running here and there, 24 a wild donkey used to the wilderness, in her heat sniffing the wind! Who can restrain her lust? None who seek her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her.”
jne: God continues with His counsel: behave as you were designed, “Keep your feet from going unshod and your throat from thirst.” And Israel responds: “It is hopeless, for I have loved foreigners, and after them I will go.”
We can respond in three different ways when God points out our sin: 1- Blindly claim we have no sin and no accountability to God. 2- think that we are so far gone it is hopeless, I can’t help but sin. OR 3- admit God is right and throw ourselves on His mercy. No one ever earned God’s mercy. BUT, God’s mercy is delivered to us as Jesus took the full consequences of our sin and in mercy forgives every person who humbly accepts God’s amazing gift of His Life in exchange for their sin. How am I responding? 1, 2 or 3?
for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me … and have hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. … though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me.” Israel’s unrepentant heart is revealed by God’s accusatory question:
God Asks us: “How can you say, ‘I am not unclean, I have not gone after the Baals’? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done— a restless young camel running here and there, 24 a wild donkey used to the wilderness, in her heat sniffing the wind! Who can restrain her lust? None who seek her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her.”
jne: God continues with His counsel: behave as you were designed, “Keep your feet from going unshod and your throat from thirst.” And Israel responds: “It is hopeless, for I have loved foreigners, and after them I will go.”
We can respond in three different ways when God points out our sin: 1- Blindly claim we have no sin and no accountability to God. 2- think that we are so far gone it is hopeless, I can’t help but sin. OR 3- admit God is right and throw ourselves on His mercy. No one ever earned God’s mercy. BUT, God’s mercy is delivered to us as Jesus took the full consequences of our sin and in mercy forgives every person who humbly accepts God’s amazing gift of His Life in exchange for their sin. How am I responding? 1, 2 or 3?